This was the first major project undertaken by HEARD and has subsequently taken the longest to coordinate and complete. The cootch kettles had been used during Hillswick's heydays when it was an important fishing and trading centre. Fishing lines and nets were treated in the kettles using cootch to prolong their use, but over the years the kettles had been damaged and the structure had become little more than a heap of stones with the sea threatening to wash away what little was left. The photo to the right shows the very poor condition of the structure at the start of the project with the photo below showing the only recovered kettle. The two kettles needed were generously donated by members of the local community.
armouring had to be in place to protect the kettles and an old wall from the encroaching sea, this was provided under Shetland Island Council's coastal protection programme. This project was also partly financed by fundraising organised by HEARD and everyone is sincerely thanked for their contributions.
HEARD would like to thank Dr Carol Christiansen, one of Shetland Amenity Trust's archaeologists who kindly helped HEARD throughout this project and ensured that historical accuracy was retained during the design and construction phases.
HEARD applied for funding to rebuild the kettles from Shetland Island Council's Infrastructure Services and was successful, but before any work could commence on the cootch kettles, rock
An excellent reconstruction of the cootch kettles has been carried out by Alan Smiles and his team from Shetland Stonecraft. The picture to the left shows the reconstruction underway with the photo on the right showing the completed work.
The work carried out by Shetland Stonecraft has included the removal of the only surviving kettle without damage as it was found to be of an unusual size, being much bigger than most other known kettles. Fire bars for use under the kettles were specially fabricated to show the differing types once used.
They then went on to recover and clean the undamaged stones for reuse and a lime plaster has been used for historical accuracy when rebuilding the stonework. Extra stones of a similar appearance were required to finish the project and yet again the community kindly came to the rescue.
The cootch kettles stand proud again boasting two chimneys as they once did. The project is now almost complete with only safety mesh covers to be fixed over the kettles and an interpretative board to be placed nearby, describing how cootch was made and how the kettles were used a century ago.
HEARD would like to express gratitude to everybody who has helped in any way to improve Hillswick's waterfront by donating the replacement kettles, extra stones, advice and sweat - safeguarding a bit more of this areas history.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
