I’ve always been a bit of an explorer/adventurer. Ever since I was a little girl growing up in the wilds of Canada I could be found out exploring new areas, always keen for a new adventure. I’d pick a spot in the distance, a tree, a hill, a clearing, and head towards it, always wondering what was waiting around the corner. I was never disappointed; slightly lost, on occasion, but never disappointed. Perhaps that’s how I ended up on Shetland; curiosity, adventure, what’s over that hill or across 3000 miles of open sea. Shetland is on the edge of the world (my postcode begins with Z!) and it is here I’ve set down my roots.
Speaking of roots – when the great-great-great-grandson of John Clunies-Ross asked me, via Twitter, if I could go visit his old homestead and take some photographs I jumped at the chance. I’ve never been to that area, in Sound, Weisdale, Shetland, but my father had pointed out the graveyard last summer when he was visiting, and I filed it away in my brain as a site of interest to explore at a later date.
John Clunies-Ross was a bit of an adventurer/explorer himself, a sea-captain born in Shetland who ultimately ended up as ‘King of the Cocos’ on the Cocos Islands in the Indian Ocean back in the mid-1800s. There’s nothing left of the old area he was born in (in 1786) but ruins, sheep, an old graveyard and a plaque, but we thoroughly enjoyed exploring. There were plenty of things to look at and admire, especially the beautiful old trees.
So, to Richard, great-great-great grandson of John Clunies-Ross, these photographs are for you, and for anyone else who is interested in them. I’ve deliberately not marked them with my blog address, so feel free to use them as you will. If you want higher quality images just send me a message and I can email them to you.
This was the first graveyard our youngest children have ever visited, so we used the opportunity to explain what a graveyard was, and since there’s been a spate of vandalism by some children in another local graveyard recently, we made sure we taught ours about respecting the area and not to damage anything. I may have spent a considerable length of time reading all the tombstones while the children were eager to get home out of the wind. We popped in to the shop on the way home, covered in mud, and a woman asked my daughter where we’d been. In all seriousness she replied, “Mum went to see the dead people.” Ack! From the mouths of babes! But thank you, Richard, for spurring us on to visit this place. We’re glad we did.
Daydream adventurer. Expat Canadian. Foodie. Calls Shetland home, for now. One eye is always on the horizon.
Tom Brocher says
Your photographs really made me feel as though I had hiked down the trail to the ruins along with you! I loved them!
I am interested in any photos that you may have taken of the cemetery. I have Williamson ancestors were from the area near the cemetery, especially Gardie and Hoove, and I believe that I have family members who were buried at this cemetery. So I’m interested in any photos of the cemetery that you may have taken, in addition to the one that you posted here.
I’m also curious if this cemetery has a name? I’ve seen it referred to as Church Yard of Sound or Burial Ground Sound, but those are from records from the 1860s and I wonder what it might be called now….
Thanks again for posting your wonderful photos and your description of what you found!
Elizabeth says
Oh wow, I’m glad you liked my post 🙂 I don’t have any photos of the cemetery itself, but I could go back when the weather returns and take some for you, if you’d like? I’ve learned how to video edit so I could do a walk-through of the whole area!
Reann O'Neill says
I am a direct descendant of John Clunies Ross, Amelia Davidina Johnston Rowe Clunies Ross is my Great Grandmother and I am thoroughly enamored of our Ancestry in the Shetlands to Cocos Keeling Islands and also Princess S’pia of Malay (Great Great not sure how many greats! Grandmother) who I believe was married to John Clunies Ross Cocos K. Islands. Such beautiful pictures thanks for sharing with us.
natalie da Silva says
Loved seeing these photographs and thoroughly enjoyed your blog! Yes, I would very much appreciate a few higher quality images as I am helping a good friend in South Africa with her family history and although we have just started, I find a connection!
Robert John Clunies-Ross says
Elizabeth, thankyou for the pictures, my ancestor was Robert, John’s younger brother who went to sea at age 10, hard to believe in 2015. He and John met up on Cocos in the early 1820’s but only stayed together for less than 2 years. Robert established himself as a merchant trading between Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania) and Britain. Cheers, Rob.
John Davie says
Hello from John Davie, an Australian fortunate enough to have worked on Co os(Keeling) spent time roaming the Clunies- Ross homestead and property on many occasions, and,most importantly, salvaged hundreds of Kilmarnock made Bricks in the lapping waters around the front garden. I was and remain amazed by this, as I am originally from Glasgow but left as a very young boy. Always had a close association with the Clunies Ross history, and have earnestly researched it. At this very moment I am in Aith on Shetland and today, before I went on this site, discovered the old Clunies Ross home. I will be venturing down there tomorrow morning……
JoZart says
Beautiful, emotive photographs and all so interesting, especially for me living in a big city.What a different life it all is and I could embrace it at the drop of a hat.
Best wishes, Jo
Elizabeth says
Thank you, I really appreciate your lovely comment xx 🙂
Richard Porteous says
Thank you for such a touching, wonderful blog Elizabeth. I haven’t been to the area for many years, but your lovely photos brought it all back in an instant. A big hug to you and your family and my warmest good wishes, Richard.
Elizabeth says
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Richard, and thank you again for encouraging us to visit the location. We loved it – we felt like we were transported away somewhere magical into the past.
Choclette says
Fantastic photos Elizabeth. It’s really good to see a bit more of Shetland – from the photos I’ve seen (and the television programme), it looks quite magnificent.
I can’t stop giggling at the thought of a cocoa king from Shetland. I know that’s not quite what he was, but it sounds like it.
Elizabeth says
I know what you mean! A Shetland chocolate king, hee hee! Thanks for your lovely comment, it’s comments like yours that help me feel I’m not wasting my time blogging and that I’m doing something people find interesting. 🙂