Böd of Gremista facts for kids
The Böd of Gremista is a special old building located at the north end of Lerwick, a town in Shetland, Scotland. It's a great example of a fishing booth from the 1700s. A fishing booth was a place where fishermen lived and worked. This building is so important that it's protected as a category B listed building, which means it's a historic place that needs to be preserved.
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History of the Böd of Gremista
When Was the Böd Built?
The Böd of Gremista was built in 1780. A man named Arthur Nicholson had it built. He owned land nearby and managed the Gremista fishing station.
What Was the Böd Used For?
This building had two main uses. It was a home for families. It also served as a storage place. Fishermen used it to keep their gear and store fish. They would catch and prepare fish right on the nearby beach.
Who Was Born at the Böd?
A very important person was born in this building. His name was Arthur Anderson. He later became a co-founder of a famous shipping company called P&O.
How the Böd Became a Museum
Over time, the Böd started to fall apart. But in 1970, people decided to fix it up. Money for the repairs came from P&O and the Government of the United Kingdom. The first part of the restoration was finished in 1976.
The Böd opened as a museum in 1987. The Shetland Museums Service took it over in 1991. The Shetland Amenity Trust then ran it as a community museum. Inside, visitors could see old furniture and items from the past. There were also exhibits about fishing and Arthur Anderson's life.
The Böd Today: A Textile Museum
Since 2017, the Böd of Gremista has been a Shetland textile museum. A group of trustees manages it. The museum shows off beautiful Shetland textiles. These include wool items, jumpers, and special designs like Fair Isle. You can also see lace, rugs, and woven pieces from the 1800s to today.
What Does the Böd Look Like?
Outside Appearance
The Böd is a tall building. Its outside walls are covered with a special rough plaster called harling. The windows have wooden shutters on the outside.
Inside the Böd
The building has two main floors and an attic space at the very top. The upper floor is divided into two rooms. The attic is also split into two rooms.
The main entrance door is on the east side. It's not exactly in the middle of the wall. This door leads into the kitchen area. There's another door on the north side of the building. This second door opens into a room where salt used to be stored. Salt was important for preserving fish.
