Trust completes longhouse re-construction

THE VIKING Unst heritage project has taken a major step forward with the completion of a replica Viking longhouse, near Haroldswick, on the island of Unst.

The longhouse, built next to the Skidbladner, a full-size replica of the Gokstad longship, will be a centre point to unravel and interpret Unst’s Viking past.

Constructed by the Shetland Amenity Trust’s own architectural heritage team, the longhouse was built over three summers using traditional methods.

In the process the architectural heritage team, whose future is under threat due to proposed budget cuts, had to learn Viking skills to complete the building as authentically as possible.

Shetland archaeologist Val Turner said that the reconstruction was based on the knowledge gained during three excavations of longhouse sites in Unst; at Hamar, Underhoull and Belmont.

“The excavations have given us much more idea about what a longhouse in Shetland looked like, although we have been surprised to find that there is no single blueprint for how it looked. 

“Each excavated longhouse had differences to the others: Underhoull even had one turf wall and one drystone wall. 

“When we get to the height of the walls and the roof, our replica is more speculative, based on information from excavations in Norway and also traditions from Shetland and further afield.”

Massive trusses, cut from trees imported from Scottish mainland, are held in place by joints rather than nails.

Ms Turner said: “The craftsmen who have worked on the project have found it to be a rewarding experience, and have completed this impressive building using their existing skills, and techniques new to them.”

The roof has a wooden covering with a membrane and birch bark applied to keep the interior of the house dry. This has been sealed with turf, taken from the tennis court Buness House, in Baltasound.Ms Turner added: “At present the longhouse appears to be wearing a hairnet; the netting will hold the turf in place until the grass grows through and the turves knit together next spring.”

Once the trust has managed to obtain a completion certificate, it plans us use the longhouse as a centre for Viking activities such as Living History interpretation events.

Over 85 per cent of the costs for the re-construction have been secured from funding sources outside of Shetland, with the bulk of the money coming from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

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