The Böd of Gremista, situated at the north end of Lerwick, Shetland, Scotland, is a typical 18th-century Shetland fishing booth (or böd). It is protected as a category B listed building.[1]
History
The Böd was built in 1780 by Arthur Nicholson, local landowner and manager of the Gremista fishing station. The building provided family accommodation and a store for the fishing and fish-curing activities that took place on the adjacent beach.[2]
It was the birthplace of Arthur Anderson, co-founder of Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, (now P&O).
The building fell into disrepair[3] but was restored with grants provided by P&O and the UK Government in 1970,[4] the first phase being completed in 1976.[5] It opened as a museum in 1987, was acquired by the Shetland Museums Service in 1991 and was run as a community museum by the Shetland Amenity Trust. The exhibition included period furnishings and other artefacts together with displays on fishing and the life of Anderson. In 2017 the building was a Shetland textile museum run by a board of trustees and exhibited Shetland textiles from 1800s to the present day including wool, jumpers, Fair Isle, lace, rugs and weaving.[3][6]
Description
The building is tall and finished with harling. The windows have shutters to the exterior.[7] There are two storeys with an attic; the upper storey is divided into two rooms, as is the attic. The main door is to the east face, placed asymmetrically, and accesses the kitchen. A second door on the north face leads to a room where salt was stored.[8]
References
- ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Gremista Road, The Bod of Gremista (Category B Listed Building) (LB37258)". Retrieved 20 March 2019.
- ^ Gittings, B.M. (2012). "Bod of Gremista". The Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
- ^ a b "Shetland's dedicated textiles museum at the Böd of Gremista". Shetland Textile Museum. 2017. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
- ^ Irvine (1985), p.271
- ^ Irvine (1985), p.293
- ^ "Böd of Gremista and Shetland Textile Working Museum". Shetland Heritage Association. 2017. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
- ^ Mike Finnie (1990). Shetland: An Illustrated Architectural Guide (RIAS Illustrated Architectural Guides to Scotland). Mainstream. p. 23. ISBN 978-1851583904.
- ^ John Gifford (2003). Highlands and Islands (The Buildings of Scotland). Yale University Press. p. 494. ISBN 9780300096255.
- Irvine, James W. (1985). Lerwick: The Birth and Growth of an Island Town. Lerwick: Lerwick Community Council. ISBN 978-0-9509669-1-5.
External links
- Böd of Gremista and Shetland Textile Museum - official site
60°10′13.0008″N 1°9′47.9982″W / 60.170278000°N 1.163332833°W
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