Our history

Introduction

Busta House has an intriguing and storied history. The earliest part of the house was built in 1588 by the Giffords but both house and family only really gained prestige and wealth in the 18th century.

General History

In 1748, Busta House was owned by Thomas Gifford, a wealthy landowner and merchant. He was married to an ambitious wife and had 14 children, including 4 sons. His eldest son John was 30 and should have now been married with heirs of his own. However, he only had eyes for his orphaned cousin, Barbara Pitcairn, who lived in the house as a companion to Lady Gifford. Unfortunately for John, The Giffords were completely against such an unsuitable match for their heir. So much so, in fact, that Lady Gifford told a friend she would rather see John dead at her feet than married to Barbara Pitcairn.

 

On May 14th 1748, tragedy struck when John, his 3 brothers, their tutor and a boatman, set off across the voe to visit relatives at Wethersta on the other side. It was a fine, calm evening. However, by the next day they had not returned and frantic search parties were sent out. Eventually the boat was found, upright, with John’s hat and stick still in it, with no trace of the 6 men. At last the bodies of John Gifford and the tutor were dredged up, though none of the others were ever discovered. In the end, sadly, John was indeed laid dead at his mother’s feet.

Barbara Pitcairn then went to the Giffords and told them that she and John had been secretly married some months ago, and that she was expecting his child. If she hoped that this news would alleviate the loss of all their sons she was disappointed. They refused to acknowledge that a marriage had taken place, although when the child, a boy, was born both grandparents took to him at once and decided to bring him up as their heir. He was christened Gideon.

 

But they never forgave Barbara. She was a spirited young lady and it was not long before she and Lady Gifford had their final quarrel. Barbara was sent packing to live in Lerwick - in those days a 14 hour boat journey away. Gideon stayed at Busta House to be raised as a gentleman. Barbara would only see her son one more time, when he was 7 years old. She died aged only 35, and there can be no doubt that she died grieving, for she had been cruelly treated. Perhaps her ghost returns, as during life she could not, to look for her son or even for her lover.

It was said that Barbara had produced a Marriage Certificate and that it had been stolen from her and hidden by Lady Gifford, who didn’t want to see Barbara usurp her place. If so it was the most unwise thing she ever did, because the supposed illegitimacy of Gideon later caused a lawsuit to be brought against him by an envious cousin, which took 93 years to resolve, and brought the estates of Busta House to ruin.

 

The house was eventually bought in the 1950’s by Sir Basil Neven Spence, another Shetland landowner. He was Lord Lieutenant of Shetland and a Member of Parliament, as a result of which occupation he was able to rescue and bring to Shetland some gargoyles from the House of Commons in London, which, damaged by wartime bombing were being discarded during renovation work. These gargoyles are still in the gardens of Busta House, staring blankly out over the sea, where the four sons of Thomas and Elizabeth met their deaths on a calm May evening. As for Barbara, she still haunts the old house searching for her son Gideon and is frequently seen by guests.

1588

The original part of the house was built. The first of the Giffords to settle in Shetland was John Gifford, a church minister, mentioned in the annals of Northmavine in 1567. He was the second son of the Giffords of Sheriffhall in Midlothian.

1714

Thomas Gifford & Elizabeth Mitchell married. Thomas Gifford had become Depute of the Shetland Islands. Elizabeth Mitchell was the daughter of John Mitchell of Westshore, a considerable landowner who was later to become a baronet and the only titled man in the islands.

1960

Wednesday 10th August  – Queen Elizabeth II visited. She was entertained to tea in our Long Room by the then Lord Lieutenant of Shetland, Sir Basil Niven Spence, having come ashore on the Royal Yacht ‘Britannia’. There are photographs of 3 framed prints and a plaque.

2015

Grant & Joel took over the hotel from the previous owners.