Around the year 1530 Edward Sinclair, descended from the Sinclairs who built Rosalind chapel, acquired the lands here at Brough. It is probable that he, his son or grandson built a fine house here, said to be three stories high. The lands passed out of the Sinclair families possession in 1697, with the Sinclair mansion thereafter falling into disrepair and finally being demolished in the early 1800s; the stone from the house was recycled into some of these croft houses, especially this one that contains many dressed stones. The carving of a rather simian face (top right, front corner) is unusual, perhaps the only one of its kind in Shetland. Presumably this was an original feature of the Sinclair house, but we know no more than that.
Source: https://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/track/77080?l=en
For more information on the Sinclair’s of Brough see the following link: https://fionamsinclair.co.uk/genealogy/isles/Brugh.htm