Flemington House
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Flemington House, was built in the 1850's or -60's.
As a part of the Higland Clearances, the land purchaser David Dakers Black of Breechin, was responsible for the evicition of about 200 crofters from Weisdale area. He sent his "Land Stewart", Charles Fleming, (1821 - 1897), to work as a farm manager in Weisdale, and to underline the permanence of the evictions, the crofter's cottages were demolished and the stones were used to build a large stone mansion, called Flemington.
In the years from 1913 to 1920, the great tree plantations were formed by Dr. George Munro. This is now the nearest you can come to a forest in Shetland. Huge trees of all kinds grow around Flemington House. The Kergord estate is today the largest area of woodland in Shetland, and a variety of migrating birds can be spotted there.
Flemington House is among the well known Shetland places from WW II. In December 1940, the house was requisitioned from Mrs. Winton by Major L. H. Michell for use in The Shetland Bus operation.
The first winter it was not only used as headquarters, and to train saboteurs, but before the refugee camp at Browns Road, Lerwick, was established, it also housed all incoming Norwegian refugees.
Later it became the quarters for agents awaiting transport to Norway, or de-brief on return.
The house also became the place were visiting high - ranking officers were received. the most prominent visitor was HKH Crown Prince Olav of Norway in October 1942.
After the war, the house changed name to Kergord House. A small book entitled Kergord House: An Account Of An Historic Shetland House, was produced and self-published by John MacRae of Kergord in 1982. Softback, sixteen printed pages, with several photographs and plans on the house.
