A Victorian farmhouse on the remote Scottish island of Sanday has revealed itself as an extraordinary time capsule, preserved virtually untouched for over 200 years. Jackie Sinclair and her business partner Dave Walker spent two years meticulously restoring Boloquoy farm after discovering that the Fea family, who owned the property since 1762, had kept almost everything - from ancient rugs and bird feathers to unopened Christmas gifts from over a century ago.
The property was bought by Jackie and her husband Malcolm in 2013, but the last member of the Fea family stayed in the farmhouse on a life tenancy until he left in 2023. The property then legally transferred to Jackie and her family, even though she had never stepped inside the house until then.
Remarkable discoveries
Inside the property, Jackie and Dave uncovered generations of carefully preserved belongings stored in eight to nine chests - essentially entire collections of people's lives. Jackie said: "It is a frugal life living on an island farm - you couldn't just order something from Amazon, and it would arrive a few days later. Inside the property, we were shocked to find out that the family had kept everything."
The family had shredded old clothing to make rag-rugs, saved bird feathers, and even kept screws from everything they had ever scrapped, all bundled up for reusing. Jackie said: "There was so much history and heritage that we needed to preserve it as island heritage."
Restoration challenges
Jackie loves buying and restoring properties with her business partner Dave, who is a keen interior designer. Together, they have purchased four holiday lets on Orkney, doing them up in different styles including mid-century and heritage themes.
The pair invested a full year pulling the derelict house apart and another year putting it back together, determined to preserve its original period state. During renovation, they discovered layers of historic floor coverings - 1970s linoleum, Edwardian linoleum, and Victorian oilcloth.
Jackie's most exciting find was what initially appeared to be "a mushy brown thing" beneath all the layers. After putting it through the washing machine, it revealed itself as an ancient Scottish ingrain rug from the late 1700s or early 1800s - one of the first carpets ever made, featuring a beautiful Celtic knot design.
Heritage preservation project
The restored property now offers authentic Victorian farm life experiences, with guests able to sleep in original Victorian beds including a traditional Orcadian box bed. Beyond the house, the farm features restored barns with historic implements beneath traditional turf roofs, heritage breeds of livestock, and traditional crops.
The nearby mill pond habitat has been revitalised in partnership with RSPB Scotland and now supports greater diversity of waders and coastal birds. Future plans include bringing the unique water mill back to life.
Jackie and Dave have received "brilliant feedback" from professional historians, and Orkney museum wants to collaborate with them. According to the Daily Record, a documentary film is being made about the restoration story, and the farmhouse will become a trust to ensure long-term preservation.
Jackie said the experience has fundamentally changed her approach to sustainable living: "It has changed the way I live my life. I don't order stuff from amazon anymore - I use materials that are solid and that I can keep for years."
Sources used: "Scotsman", "Daily Record" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
