Securing the future of Shetland hand-knitting
The story so far…
Hand knitting is a vital component of Shetland’s heritage and identity. However, it can only survive if knitters’ extraordinary skill and creativity is recognised and nurtured, and that’s the challenge that Shetland PeerieMakkers has embraced.
Until 2010, hand-knitting was part of the curriculum in Shetland’s primary schools but, in that year, the local education authority decided that tuition should end, in order to save money.
At around the same time, a local Trust was developing ideas for the restoration of Brough Lodge, a substantial laird’s house on the island of Fetlar dating from 1825. The Brough Lodge Trust concluded that the old building would make an excellent centre for the celebration and teaching of important aspects of Shetland’s heritage, including hand-knitting and music. Such a transformation would also create a valuable asset for the Fetlar community.
However, consultation with local hand-knitters highlighted the very real risk that the hand-knitting skills – on which the project would rely – would be lost. Sharing that concern, the Trust explored the possibility of resuming hand-knitting tuition for children, with the aim of securing the future of that very special heritage.
The Brough Lodge Trust meanwhile refined its proposals for the old building, confirming that hand-knitting and music would be central to the vision for the project. However, Trustees recognised that, in order to achieve that vision, it would be necessary to involve a philanthropist willing to take on the building.
In the summer of 2023, the search concluded when agreement on a transfer of the property was reached with the European Heritage Project, led by its Chief Curator, Prof Dr Dr Peter Löw. The European Heritage Project has extensive experience of restoring historic buildings in several countries, but this is its first initiative in Britain.
The Brough Lodge Trust meanwhile refined its proposals for the old building, confirming that hand-knitting and music would be central to the vision for the project. However, Trustees recognised that, in order to achieve that vision, it would be necessary to involve a philanthropist willing to take on the building.
In the summer of 2023, the search concluded when agreement on a transfer of the property was reached with the European Heritage Project, led by its Chief Curator, Prof Dr Dr Peter Löw. The European Heritage Project has extensive experience of restoring historic buildings in several countries, but this is its first initiative in Britain.
Our Sponsors
We would like to thank our sponsors for their kind contributions for ShetlandPeerieMakers, and for the development phase of the Brough Lodge Retreat Project.
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