Brough Lodge in Fetlar now wind and watertight

The first phase of repair work at Brough Lodge in Fetlar is approaching completion, with a total of £417,000 spent on making the building wind and watertight and restoring the original appearance of the lodge.

The restoration has taken more than a year to complete, and was paid for by Historic Scotland, Shetland Amenity Trust and Shet­land Islands Council.

While this work was necessary in order to keep the building in good condition, ultimately Brough Lodge Trust hopes to continue restoring the house so that it can be used for heritage workshops and exhibitions. This would, in turn, bring employ­ment and income to the island, making it a real asset to the Fetlar community.

The total cost of this project is estimated to be almost £3m, and the trust hopes to attract sponsorship from both public agencies and the private sector in order to continue the work.

Project manager and chair of the Brough Lodge Trust Pierre Cam-billard said: “I am delighted that we have received a strong commitment from Historic Scotland, Shetland Islands Council and Shetland Amenity Trust for the first phase restoration project.

“I believe that, despite the recession, it will be possible to secure financial support for the original plan to restore the site as a residential heritage centre.

“In the meantime, however, we would be delighted to receive donations from local people and Shetland businesses to help with the next step. I’m confident that investing in Shetland’s heritage in this way will benefit the whole community.

“In restoring assets of this kind, we don’t just preserve the past; we also increase the attractiveness of our islands to visitors and help preserve or develop local skills, which is essential if the economy is to be diverse and prosperous. I would ask people to consider making whatever donation they can afford.”

For more details on the project please visit our website www.broughlodge.org.