VOD Shetland’s Abandoned Crofthouses

VOD Shetland’s Abandoned CrofthousesIn this book, by way of an appreciation of our shared heritage, Christine De Luca offers a montage of photographs of a wide range of abandoned crofthouses in Shetland, selected from Unst to Fair Isle and from Foula to Skerries. Though the crofthouses are mouldering, this material culture can still be seen all over the landscape. Each of the 38 locations depicted is accompanied by a short poem in Shaetlan (with an English version) which attempts to

In this book, by way of an appreciation of our shared heritage, Christine De Luca offers a montage of photographs of a wide range of abandoned crofthouses in Shetland, selected from Unst to Fair Isle and from Foula to Skerries.  Though the crofthouses are mouldering, this material culture can still be seen all over the landscape.  Each of the 38 locations depicted is accompanied by a short poem in Shaetlan (with an English version) which attempts to evoke something of the individuality of the place and of the people who lived there.  You can find all the crofts using the OS grid references and also enjoy reading about the derivations of the fascinating place-names. 

Christine De Luca (née Pearson) writes in Shaetlan and English.  Born in Bressay in 1947, she spent her formative years in Waas.  She lives in Edinburgh and was appointed Edinburgh's Makar (laureate) for 2014-2017.  She has had eight poetry collections published, several of which have won awards.  Her most recent is Veeve (Mariscat Press, Edinburgh, 2021).  She has also written two novels and various storybooks for children.  She is a member of Shetland ForWirds and a keen advocate of the Shaetlan tongue.

Christine DeLuca

Hardback

90 pages

 Size:  240 x 265mm