A LIGHTHOUSE built by the father and brother of the famous Scottish writer Robert Louis Stevenson has gone up for sale.
Bressay Lighthouse, Shetland, has stood as a guiding beacon on the island for more than 160 years but has now hit the market with an asking price of over £350,000.
Built in 1858 by renowned lighthouse engineers David and Thomas Stevenson, the B-listed landmark has been owned by the Shetland Amenity Trust since 1995.
The trust said it held a “careful and lengthy” period of consultation with the local community and believes they have come to the right decision to sell the building as they are no longer able to care for the lighthouse in the “way it deserves”.
A spokesperson for the trust said they had to make the “difficult decision” to sell the lighthouse due to rising costs and financial pressures.
However, Shetland Amenity Trust chair Alison Moncrieff said the lighthouse will always hold a “special place in Shetland’s story”.
She told Shetland News: “While it’s been a difficult decision to part with the building, we believe this is the right moment to invite new energy and investment to help it thrive again.
“Rising costs and financial pressures mean the Trust is no longer able to care for the lighthouse in the way it deserves, but we are excited by the possibilities that lie ahead.
“We’re hopeful that a new owner will bring fresh vision and commitment to restore and reimagine the site, ensuring it can be enjoyed for years to come.
“We are grateful to the Directors of Bressay Development Ltd for their thoughtful work exploring a community-led solution. Although this was not feasible in the end, their dedication shows the deep value placed on the site.”
In the listing for the lighthouse, it states that any restoration or development will require permission from Historic Environment Scotland, and work must use traditional materials and techniques appropriate to the lighthouse’s listed status.
Property firm Savills has been chosen to sell the lighthouse, as the property listing adds that the former keepers’ cottages and outbuildings have been adapted to support the Bressay Lighthouse artists’ residency, offering accommodation and studio space to visiting artists, while the east and west cottages were previously in use as holiday lets.
It also said the “remote setting, historical character, and views over the sea and nearby Noss National Nature Reserve make the site attractive for those seeking solitude, inspiration, or a connection with Shetland’s natural and cultural environment”.
