Last year I wrote about this house which we passed on one of our tours in Scotland. I see it is currently for sale and the listing from Strutt & Parker provides a glimpse into the interiors. Although it does boast six bedrooms, it is a more manageable size than some of the grander properties for sale in Scotland. Castles are all very well, but they are usually rather cold, as we found to our cost last autumn. My only disappointment upon seeing the interiors is that the ceilings appear to be quite low, but that could be as a result of the distortions created by the wide angle shots.
Manses, rectories, vicarages and parsonages are really quite delightful properties, but sadly very much in demand, so this will probably go quickly. The Atholl estate that, (according to the particulars), "gifted" it to the church, belongs to the Duke of Atholl, who's seat is Blair Castle, a rather unexpected iced-cake confection, but of the volume that does not appeal, when maintaining comfort can no longer rely on a retinue of staff, unless one is a member of the Royal Family, or a former shopkeeper from Knightsbridge.
But estates, even this rather modest 9.5 acres, require maintenance, and being looked after. Our long sojourn in Scotland last year rather put us off the idea of the perceived delights of country living. We'll just stick with Plan B, as in Bangkok.
12 comments:
It is a handsome property indeed. The earlier part of the house does have low ceilings, but it appears some ceilings were lowered in renovation. And I would also want to make some adjustments to the floor plan. That hall to the second bath and dressing room adjacent to the Master Bedroom may allow staff to service without disturbing, but it messes up the bedroom. I have never been to Scotland (!), but this would seem to be a lovely area.
It's always interesting to see a house that you have admired go up for sale, and it always brings those thoughts of "What if?" or "Could I manage it?" Most people experience a dose of reality when faced with such an opportunity, which is why those kinds of estates remain white elephants, and also why so many are sadly torn down.
Looking at the floor-plan for the first floor of the main house, I see Bedroom 5 has no apparent entrance or exit -- making it the perfect spot for a mad aunt or an intolerable teenager. The realtor should stress this opportunity in the brochure.
It's a lovely place in a lovely setting. The interiors are appropriate and there are quite a few nice portraits, though I'm sure none of the furnishings come with the home. I could see myself living here, but I would definitely need "city getaways."
The listing states that it has been repaired and renovated; however in a house this age, there is always something that needs attention.
JJT - sometime the layout is rather annoying, and getting it to fit one's requirements can be an expensive exercise. As it is C listed it is possible to do this less painfully that A or B listings, (I & II in England).
Parnassus - I think you've hit the nail on the head. The reality is often not quite as idyllic as the romantic ideas one has about these places, even with something comparatively modest such as this house. Last year we were in UK for nearly two months trying to avoid the flooding here and it afforded us a good lesson on green grass and the other side.
Ancient - I hadn't noticed this but it would be a useful room to have for the unruly, and a great selling point, which as you say has been clearly overlooked.
Yesterday, I toured a house for sale near here, designed by Gropius. Yesterday I could imagine nothing nicer than its clean glass walled spaces. Today I see this, and now just 30 hours later, I'm craving ancient countryside and symmetry. I'm so promiscuous that way...
Diogenes - your last point is so true - regular maintenance of period properties, and doing this does not come cheaply in UK, and it is not easy either to find skilled workmen to carry out the tasks, especially in the country.
It's also a bit exposed. If you can see a beautiful house from the road, it's not secluded enough. I expect many like us, have stopped on this (albeit it B, or smaller road), to gawp. It is close to a highly successful and upmarket store called House of Bruar,
http://www.houseofbruar.com/
which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to the Highlands, and I suspect that may be one of the reasons the owners are selling.
DED - I understand! Big windows and light appeals, (especially contemporary modern, rather than Bauhaus), but I am drawn to both. One each then, really!
Dear Columnist,
In regard to your comment about low ceilings, I've been studying the rooms of this lovely house, and it appears to me that the rooms simply photograph as lower than they actually are. Looking at the sitting room with the roaring fire, for example, I notice French doors with a very large transom — surely that's about 10 feet in height.
Mark, a good clue. These wide-angled photographs are not really that helpful, are they?
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