Trumland


Trumland is a Category B listed house and associated estate on Rousay, in Orkney, Scotland, built in its present form in 1875. Designed by David Bryce, the house was commissioned by Sir F W Traill-Burroughs in 1870, as a new family home for himself on his return from India.
Overlooking the sound between Rousay and the island of Wyre, the house is of a strong baronial design, with crow-stepped gables and canted windows, made from the local Rousay stone, with fine carved finials and architectural detailing. Built over three principal stories, with gable windows and dormers creating a fourth, the house utilized the first and second stories as the principal living and sleeping quarters for the owners, the majority of the ground floor and attics were made over to management of the house and estate.
Trumland passed from the Traill-Burroughs family in the 1920s, and was later purchased by the Grant family of Grant's whisky, and was used as the summer residence for Mr Walter Grant, who also owned Highland Park whisky in Kirkwall, Orkney. Trumland was later sold again, and passed through a series of owners until a fire on 4 April 1985 caused the house considerable damage, leaving the property roofless and with the upper floors and principal rooms seriously damaged or destroyed. After re-roofing in 1985 the house was again sold, and passed un-restored through a series of owners until purchased by the present owners in 2002, who are now in the process of restoring the house and gardens to its previous form.
The gardens are open to the public every summer, and although the house in its present condition is not, it is hoped by the owners that in time it too will be available to visit.