You will find examples of home made Shetland furniture in almost all of
Shetland's museums. The Bod of Gremista displays many examples, representing
a range of traditionally made furniture. This 18th century fishing booth was
recently restored back to its original condition and has been fitted out
with contemporary furniture and fittings. It is also famous as the
birth-place of Arthur Anderson co-founder of the P & O shipping line. Look
for the teredo worm holes in the wardrobe upstairs.
If it's the high life you're after then pay a visit to Fetlar
Interpretive Centre. Fetlar once had two resident baronets, and the Centre
has photographic displays on their daily life, as well as transcripts of
diaries which detail the way of life of both laird and islander from 1900 to
the 1930s.
The award-winning exhibition on Sir William Watson Cheyne
interprets the life of the Fetlar man who became assistant and successor to
Lord Lister in the pioneering developments of antiseptic surgery. Look for
the Victorian Wimshurst type machine from Brough Lodge - do you thinks its
effect will be as strong today? The centre also makes use of modern
technology and has excellent multi-media displays covering many aspects of
island life.
Lairds and their life can also he seen in the Tangwick Haa
Museum. In fact the museum is a restored Laird's house built in the late
17th century. One can imagine the grandeur of the house and its inhabitants
when you look at the 1840's wedding dress belonging to the wife of one of
the lairds.
Crown Derby china dating from the same time and belonging to the
last resident laird, adds to the picture. But life was not always cups of
tea and weddings! The museum also tells the story of the Stenness and
Fethaland haaf stations and the hardship faced by men who fished from small
open boats.
But for boats you must go to the Unst Boat Haven, where you can see examples
of vessels illustrating the development of open boats in Shetland, and the
North Atlantic.
You only need to compare the lines of the Faroese boat with that of the Ness
yoal to see that they come from the same ancestry.
The
museum also houses a vast collection of associated maritime artefacts from
Shetland's long association with the sea and the industries it supports.
However it is the boats and the stories behind them which attract most
attention. Imagine being on the Holm Boat on the night of a storm in 1887,
and the grim procession home with the body of your skipper.
Another story of Shetland
maritime past can be seen at the restored Bremen Böd at Symbister. The
account tells of Shetland's long-standing trading links with German
merchants.
However if its burning boats you are after, then you must visit
the Up Helly Aa exhibition in Lerwick and see the full-size replica of the
galley which is burnt every year.
But what do men in
furry suits have to do with it?
