Belmont House Restoration

Belmont House is a Category A listed Georgian house built in 1775 and set in a designed landscape with formal gardens around the house. The landscape and gardens are included in the Inventory of Historic Gardens in Scotland. The house itself was unmodernised and retained original detailing and features, including paint colours. Its restrained perfection, remarkable anywhere, is set in a wild and unspoiled natural setting of great beauty. Extensive documentation chronicles its history and the intentions of its builder as well as such details as the original furniture inventory. The Belmont Trust’s aim was for a faithful but uninvasive restoration, including the gardens.

Belmont was acquired in 1997, in a desperate state. The Trust‘s first act was to secure funding of over £40,000 to carry out emergency propping and a temporary roof covering. The Trust spent its early years fundraising for the main project and also recording and removing the contents of the house into safe keeping. Volunteer work parties have been actively involved. Phase 1 started in 2005 and was completed by May 2006 at a cost of £346,000. This included propping up the internal structure, repairing internal structural timber, a new slate and lead roof, stonework replacement and repairs, removing old cement render and repointing in lime. Phase 2.1 started in autumn 2006 and was completed in August 2007. At a cost of £217,000 the external restoration with lime rendering was completed, new windows and doors were installed and the two pavilions were repaired and restored internally.

Phase 2.2, the internal restoration, was completed in August 2010. This included the full period restoration of the rooms as well as the installation of electric, water and plumbing services, to make the house fully habitable. These works cost £537,000. Phase 3, the restoration of the structure of the gardens and designed landscape has commenced, including repairs and rebuilding of the garden walls, and will be completed in a longer timeframe by Trustees and volunteers. Appropriate planting, seats and features will make the gardens a public facility.

Our design team consists of: Nicholas Groves Raines Architects (Edinburgh) Michael Thomson Quantity Surveyor & Planning Supervisor (Lerwick) Elliot & Co. Structural Engineer (Edinburgh).

Our contractor was The Shetland Amenity Trust and work was largely carried out by their North Isles Squad. This contractor was selected by competitive tender against other local and mainland contractors. SAT are able to provide the specialist skills needed. The project has enabled the training of local Shetland craftsmen in traditional techniques and Historic Scotland are entirely satisfied with the quality of workmanship.

Belmont
- has been restored and has a viable and sustainable future.
- is a resource for the people of Unst.
- helps with the diversification of employment in Unst and contribute to the island’s economy.
- is an attraction for visitors to Unst, both tourists and from the rest of Shetland.
- provides a new standard of holiday accommodation for Shetland marketed through a partnership with the National Trust for Scotland and accommodating up to 12.
- is a visual symbol of a healthy island economy.
- has been saved as an outstanding example of Georgian Architecture.

Belmont
- has been saved as an outstanding example of Georgian Architecture.
- has provided local employement for several years during the construction phase.
- has a viable future.
- has generated funding to be completed to exacting standards.
- has demonstrated that a small island community has the skills and experience to carry out such a demanding project.
- has been a project with strong community support