News

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At a ceremony in London on 1 November Belmont was the winner of the award for the Restoration of a Georgian Country House from the Georgian Group. Trustees Wendy Scott and Mike Finnie accepted the award from Lord Michael Heseltine.
In its introduction to the Belmont Project the Georgian Group noted:

'This delectable 1775 house attracts superlatives. It is the most ambitious classical house in the Northern Isles and the most northerly classical house in the United Kingdom. It is not only on Shetland but on the most northerly of the Shetland Isles. This profound isolation contributed to Belmont’s neglect. It was left derelict by an absentee owner and by 2004 it was boarded up.
The Belmont Trust, essentially a consortium of local conservationists, then bravely stepped into the breach. Restoration has clearly been a labour of love. Necessarily, but also encouragingly, local people (including students) have put many hours into bringing Belmont back from a roofless, ruined state.
External restoration is now complete. A later extension has been demolished to restore the fine classical proportions, the house has been made structurally secure by jacking up the floors, the roof has been replaced using reclaimed Scottish slates and sashes have been reinstated using handblown glass. The house and the restored pavilions have been covered in sparkling apricot limewashed harl. Gate pillars have been rebuilt using existing materials. Altogether a remarkable achievement in difficult circumstances.'

The trustees were delighted to win this important national award which recognises the dedication and perseverence of the trustees over 10 years, the longstanding support of our sponsors and helpers, in particular Historic Scotland. Most importantly the award confirms that the skills and hard work of the North Isles squad of Shetland Amenity Trust are equal to the best in Britain.

Gardie - A Shetland House and its people

Wendy Scott, Belmont Trustee, has published this book which tells the story of Gardie House, built in 1724 on the shores of Bressay Sound. With strong links to Belmont House the story of Gardie and its people makes fascinating reading. Illustrated throughout with paintings, photographs, maps and also drawings by fellow Belmont Trustee Mike Finnie.

Publication date
15 September 2007
The Shetland Times Ltd
ISBN 978-1-904746-26-3
Hardback £30
ISBN 978-1-904746-27-0
Paperback £16.99
Profusely illustrated with maps and paintings.

Work on the first part of Phase 2 is complete. This phase started on site in October 2006 and has completed the external restoration; windows have been repaired or replaced, the pavilions have been made structurally sound with new floors and staircases and the house is now lime rendered. All the internal house structure has been repaired. Belmont now stands proud and gleaming over Bluemull sound. Both pavilions have been completed internally with wonderful pitch pine beams, flooring and amazing staircases. The upper floor bedroom in the west pavilion will make "camping" there an adventure for children.

A major milestone has been reached. The work has been carried out to the highest standards using both local labour and some specialist skills which were brought in. The project has given employment to Unst and the workforce has developed traditional skills which not only will enable the next phase of Belmont to be carried out to similar exacting standards but will also be a valuable resource to future projects in Shetland.

On 1 September we welcomed visitors to the house as part of "Doors open Day". Despite a wet and windy day we had plenty of enthusiastic visitors who took great interest in the house, its restoration and its history.

We have planned the structural repairs to the garden walls and are awaiting confirmation of a grant to enable this work to start as soon as possible. Once the walls are rebuilt we will start in planning the detailed garden layout and designing sheltered seats and planting proposals.