History / Original ‘White Wife’ set to stay indoors
THE ORIGINAL ‘White Wife’ figurehead from Yell is likely to end up being permanently stored inside due to its condition.
A public meeting was hosted by Shetland Amenity Trust in Yell on Monday to discuss the future of the historic wooden item, which washed up in Yell in the 1920s after the sailing ship Bohus got into trouble and broke up, with the loss of four lives.
Originally positioned by the sea near Otterswick, she has more recently been kept indoors in Lerwick due to her condition – and a fibreglass replica has been in place since 2021.
The trust’s cultural heritage manager Jacqui Birnie said everyone at Monday’s meeting expressed a “strong desire” to see the original White Wife return to Yell.
“It was agreed that she would need to be kept indoors, preferably in a location where environmental conditions are monitored,” she added.
“The Old Haa was considered the most suitable building for her permanent home. However, the specific location within the Old Haa would need further consideration.
“Shetland Museum staff will visit the Old Haa in September to assess potential locations.”
The White Wife, or Widden Wife as she was known locally, was erected by the sea above the Bohus’ wreck site as a memorial to the ship.
The Bohus ended up in Yell after her captain made a navigational error, and she was caught up in a storm before sinking at the Ness of Queyon.
A restoration of the figurehead was undertaken in the 1980s in conjunction with the amenity trust as its condition had deteriorated in the elements.
But in April 2021 the piece was taken into storage and a replica put in place.
Birnie said the wooden one had been facing upwards, so the rain had been coming onto the structure and going inside it.
Taking her indoors has allowed the wood to dry out, and this has helped to stop rot.
Birnie added that the piece is in not as bad a state as feared, and could be restored.
“Obviously there’s parts of her that’s rotted and deteriorated, but it can all be conserved,” she said. “But in order to prevent further deterioration she cannot go back outside again.”
Will Murray, a conservator from the Scottish Conservation Studio, presented information on the current state of the figurehead at Monday’s meeting.
He also provided examples of other figureheads he has previously conserved.
Birnie said: “He noted that while there had been deterioration and rot, the decay had stopped since the figurehead was kept indoors and dried out.
“However, he made it clear that if it were to be placed outside again, the rot would likely resume. He is still working on his report, which will outline options for conservation, some of which will depend on her final location.”
The future of the replica was also discussed, which is seen as a “phase two project” that the community could take forward.
Part of the thinking is that the replica could potentially be replaced with a 3D scanned version.
“Making a case of things like the White Wife can be quite challenging and expensive,” Birnie said. “But 3D scanning would be so much more easier, that means that the replica in due course could be replaced.”
She added that the trust agreed to meet again in October once Murray’s report is available.
In the meantime, anyone who would like more information or has any thoughts or comments is invited to contact SAT on info@shetlandmuseumandarchives.org.uk.
A ceremony was held at the White Wife earlier this year to mark the 100th anniversary of the Bohus shipwreck.
Become a member of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider paying for membership to get additional features and services: -
- Remove non-local ads;
- Bookmark posts to read later;
- Exclusive curated weekly newsletter;
- Hide membership messages;
- Comments open for discussion.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a member of Shetland News by either making a single payment, or setting up a monthly, quarterly or yearly subscription.
Already a member? Sign in to hide this message.
