Nearly £170k donated to charitable trust from Belmont House sale
PROCEEDS from the sale of Belmont House in Unst have been gifted to Shetland Charitable Trust (SCT).
The £168,000 cash boost will help pay for the preservation of other historical buildings in Shetland.
The Georgian mansion was built in 1775 for Thomas Mouat of Garth.
The Belmont Trust completed its mission of restoring the building, which began over 30 years ago.
The building was derelict for decades before the trust was formed in 1992.
It was purchased for just £5 four years later from the previous owner in Edinburgh.
The trust restored the property and rented it out for events and holidays.
It was sold last year to a couple from England who planned to make it their family home as well as continue to run it as a holiday and event venue.
Belmont Trust chair Mike Finnie said: “The Belmont Trust successfully raised well over £1 million from various funders, 40 per cent of which was from Historic Environment Scotland (HES).
“Following the sale, we were required to reimburse HES with half the proceeds after various costs were taken off, including professional fees and the return of furniture we had on loan from the National Trust of Scotland.
“We are delighted to pass on the rest of the funds to Shetland Charitable Trust for reinvestment in Shetland’s built heritage.”
SCT chair Robert Leask said: “This is an unexpected and generous gesture from the Belmont trustees.
“I am sure our trustees will endeavour to put this money towards historic building projects as requested.”
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