A remarkable piece of St Kilda’s heritage has been brought back to life after a major conservation effort to repair one of the island’s most significant stone structures.

The building known as Lady Grange’s House, one of more than 1,200 cleitean on the island of Hirta, has been carefully restored following a serious collapse in January 2022.

The project has been described by the National Trust for Scotland as one of the most challenging conservation efforts undertaken on St Kilda in over 50 years.

Cleitean are traditional stone storage buildings, constructed without mortar and designed to withstand the harsh Atlantic climate.

They were once used by the St Kildan community to store food, fuel and supplies, and remain a defining feature of the island’s historic landscape.

Lady Grange’s House is particularly notable due to its size and its long association with Rachel Chiesley, known as Lady Grange, who was exiled to St Kilda in the 18th century.

Although no direct archaeological evidence confirms the link, historical accounts and local tradition have long connected the structure to her story.

The repair work focused on stabilising the structure while preserving its original appearance and cultural significance.

Specialist craftsmen rebuilt the damaged sections stone by stone using original materials and traditional techniques, guided by archive photographs taken before the collapse.

A bespoke timber structure allowed safe access during the work, while the cleit’s distinctive doorway and wooden door were carefully reinstated.

The turf roof was also restored using a combination of new materials and turf recovered from the original structure.

Clare Henderson, archaeologist with the National Trust for Scotland, said:

“Traditional St Kildan construction techniques were followed throughout the repair project.

“The building was intricately repaired stone by stone using methods found on St Kilda and the work has given us new insight into how these unique structures were built and maintained.”

Western Isles Manager Susan Bain said:

“This sympathetic repair has brought this historic cleit back to life and is a testament to the Trust staff’s expertise, the skilled contractors and the St Kildans ingenuity.

“As custodians of the archipelago, we continue to monitor and maintain these fragile yet resilient buildings.”

St Kilda is the UK’s only dual UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of only 39 in the world, and is recognised for its unique natural environment and cultural heritage.

For more information about St Kilda World Heritage Site, visit the National Trust for Scotland

The restoration of Lady Grange’s House ensures that one of its most intriguing structures will endure for future generations.