Symbister House
Symbister House, Whalsay, was built in 1823 by the sixth Laird Bruce of Symbister, Robert Bruce (2), at a cost of £30.000, despite using forced labour.
It is built of Nesting granite, from a quarry in North Nesting, and is one of the finest examples of Georgian architecture in the North Scotland area.<br>The last resident Laird died in 1944, and in 1960, Symbister House became the local school. A new building has been erected nearby for the primary school, but the secondary pupils still use the original building. It has undergone an extensive refurbishment, interiors at all levels re-instated to excellent condition, and the wings that were added and given flat roofs in 1960, have been subsequently re-covered with peaked, slate covered roofs.
Robert Hunter Bell died in the house in 1907.
File:Anne Bruce of Symbister - Shetland Museum and Archives NE02983.jpg A group of men carrying Mrs Anne Bruce of Symbister House, wife of Robert Bruce, on sedan in the 1890's.<br>Photo from Shetland Museum and Archives. |
File:Doocot Symbister House.JPG Doocot behind the house |
File:Stables - Symbister House.JPG Stables on the backside of the house |
