Places of Significance: The Manor House in Burravoe, South Yell

Would I have the guts to knock on the door of the big house, and say, “Hi! This is the home where my great, great grandmother was born. Can I come in?” I was hoping I would, but when we were finally there in the moment, I hesitated.

Photo by KF - Sept 2014

Situated prominently on the voe (inlet) in the village of Burravoe, on the southeast corner of the island of Yell, Shetland, is the Manor House, a multi-story estate house with a panoramic view and easy access to the water. This is where the laird Robert Bruce (1827-1865) and Wilhimina Inkster (1835-1896) lived (my gr, gr, great grandparents) and where my great, great grandmother Ursilla Katherine Bruce (1862-1937) was born, Grandma Ella's grandmother.

Photo by KF - Sept 2014

The Manor House is adjacent to the Burravoe Pier and Marina, and it’s a stone’s throw from the Old Haa. The house was built in 1860 (with the addition of the front veranda added in about 1920).(1) According to the 1861 census, Robert was living there in 1861 (and we assume Wilhimina too), though it’s unclear whether he commissioned the building of the house.

The house seemed smaller in person than I had imagined, but keeping in mind the context, this building is by far the largest in the area and with an ideal location. This was definitely the house of a laird.

Ralph and Ella - Sept 2014

The Manor House is in the center of the frame. Image Source.

So there I was, after traveling almost 5,000 miles from the United States to see this place that seemed legendary in family stories. I was leaning on the fence surrounding the property to take pictures, down by the marina, trying to imagine what life was like there in the late 1800s, and … I was now too nervous and felt it too bold to do more than simply take pictures from a distance.

But a friendly fisherman approached, and said, “Really? Your ancestor was born here? Let’s go talk to the current laird. Come on!” as he opened the gate and led me through the rocky, grass-covered fields, up to the house itself. Gordon, the friendly fisherman who lived on an adjacent property, did the knocking. :D Unfortunately, the laird wasn’t home. But there’s definitely a satisfaction in knowing we tried!

Maps:

• Google; Bing/Bird’s Eye View (See the pier and the fence where I was taking pictures)

Notes:

1. See a real estate listing for the Manor House from 1988.

The view of the Manor House from outside the fence, by the marina. 

Ah! It was so windy! It's hard to hear the narration. Filmed on location - September 2014. 

The view of the Manor House from the jetty out in front. 

Again, so windy that it's hard to hear the narration. Filmed on location - September 2014.