Happy Valley, Bigswell Road, Stenness

Traditional early to mid 19th century house. Long and narrow single storey range consisting of central, south-facing, 3-bay house (centred door, small flanking windows, single rear window and gable apex stacks) with byre/shed attached at either end. Wooden barrel sitting on circular stone plinth to left of entrance door to collect rain water. Rubble flagstone to walls with angled quoin to E gable-end of house (abutting shed/byre); pitched stone slate roof with aisins and patched repairs in corrugated asbestos. Flagstone path infront of house. Typical interior with flagstone floor, fireplace with timber overmantle and adjacent inbuilt cupboard, box bed and timber combed ceiling.

Almost unique to Orkney, however, is the garden which has been created along the Burn of Russadale to the south of the house.The burn has been diverted to feed a series of ponds, falls, sluices and water wheel (housed in a generator shed which retains some machinery and which provided power for the house). The garden and glade contains specimen trees, some have been planted to produce tree-lined walkways. The riverside walk has been ornamented with stone built features such as a small waterfall decorated with stone ball and pyramid, stone steps, footbridge which arches over the river, decorated with pebbles and topped with a stone fleur-de-lis. Some rubble stone walls including large Caithness stone slabs bound part of the garden.

The house is a good example of a well preserved, traditional rural Orcadian house. Buildings such as this, which have been little altered, are becoming increasingly less common on the Mainland. The house, until recently (2003) had been occupied by Mr Edwin Harrold who, over a period of 60 years, cultivated the garden (known locally as Happy Valley) to create a unique and attractive environment which is also enjoyed by locals.

The choice of what will grow in Orkney is limited because of the soil type, drainage and exposure, however, Mr Harrold successfully managed to grow trees and shrubs such as yew, European lime, monkey puzzle and fuscia. Although the house merits listing at category C(S), the garden, which is rare to Orkney, is of great significance. (Historic Scotland)

August 2009: External inspection suggests that the building has been vacant for some time. Both the roof and the masonry are in poor condition and much of the structure is covered in vegetation.

March 2012: RCAHMS complete survey work at the site. Some clearance of pathways and overgrown vegetation has taken place, otherwise, there is no significant change since the previous site visit. Listed Building Consent for the replacement of roof coverings and re-pointing/ re-building of some stonework has been lodged with Orkney Council, on behalf of Scarpa Flow Landscape Partnership ref: 12/124/LB. A building recording survey of the site has also been undertaken by the Orkney Research Centre for Archaeology. A report on the survey has been submitted as part of the Listed Building Consent, which notes that following the death of the last inhabitant, Mr Edwin Harrold, in 2005 the site was gifted to Orkney Council. The Friends of Happy Valley was set up in 2007 to save, maintain and secure a future for the site. The current works are being funded through the Scarpa Flow Landscape Partnership and will be used to invest in community-focused work, including habitat-creation, community events, education activity, wildlife surveys, interpretation, maintenance and access work. The project is being carried out in partnership with the Friends of Happy Valley Group and the Orkney Woodland Project.

12 July 2012: Local planners report restoration works have commenced. Moved to Restoration in Progress.

10 September 2013: External inspection finds the building is now re-roofed and the exterior of the house substantially repaired with new doors and windows. The interior remains unconverted and is a basic shell. Now in outwardly good condition, the building remains disused. The building is now in the ownership of the local authority who are working with the local community to restore the cottage and the surrounding gardens.

8 February 2024: Charitable body Friends of Happy Valley continue to work with Orkney Isles Council to care for the site and encourage public access.