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| Copyright Francis Frith |
Blair Castle, one of Scotland’s oldest continuously occupied estates, is for sale through Savills. Set in 1,500 acres near Dalry, Ayrshire, it has been the home of the Blair family since 1105. The current owner, Luke Borwick, a descendant of the founding family, endeavored – a la Monarch of the Glen – to maintain the estate with golfing weekends, weddings, advertising shoots and other commercial activities. During its long history, Mary Queen of Scots, William Wallace and Robert the Bruce have enjoyed hospitality at the castle, which is now to be sold along with its contents.
In addition to the 16 bedroom house, the 670 acre grounds include 12 cottages, salmon fishing and woodlands. From the Savills listing description: “Blairquhan Castle lies at the heart of the estate, overlooking the Water of Girvan which flows for over 3½ miles along the northern boundary of the estate. It is rare to find an estate which affords such privacy. About 670 acres in all, the estate also has 12 further estate properties, a walled garden with glasshouse, ice house, outstanding woodlands, farmland, a Purdey Award winning low ground shoot, roe stalking, trout fishing, and salmon and sea trout fishing. Lord Cockburn, writing as he worked his way around the South Circuit of the Scottish Bench in September 1844, wrote about his stay at Blairquhan: `I rose early…and surveyed the beauties of Blairquhan. It deserves its usual praises. A most gentleman-like place rich in all sorts of attractions – of wood, lawn, river, gardens, hill, agriculture and pasture.'”
Also from the Savills site: “Approached by way of three drives, the principal route to the Castle, the three mile Long Approach, starts at the Ayr Lodge and runs alongside the Water of Girvan. The castle is first glimpsed through the trees on the approach. A key characteristic of the castle is the extent to which it has
been preserved as William Burn and Sir David Hunter Blair completed it in 1824. Certain improvements were warranted, since the castle had only one bathroom on the principal floor when it was originally built, with accommodation for 18 resident indoor servants. An ambitious refurbishment in 1970 won the Saltire Award and was followed by an ingenious conversion by the architect Michael Laird, which made use of the former servants’ rooms to provide a modern Estate Office.
“There are now 16 bedrooms and 12 bathrooms and a driver’s overnight room. The castle has been extremely well maintained, with work including significant roof repairs, re-leading the main tower, and installation of new central heating boilers. Laid out over three floors, the accommodation is as shown in the accompanying photographs and on the layout plans. In all, there are over 70 rooms. Reception rooms include a saloon, two drawing rooms, a library and a dining room. In addition there are three kitchens, a library, a billiard room, picture galleries, a table tennis room, museums, stores and wine cellars.”
Whilst bits of British history hit the selling block daily, some as large or larger than Blair Castle, it’s always heart rending to read of these individual properties, their owners and their history. One can only hope that whomever purchases the Estate will preserve it to the same standards the family strove to achieve.
You will find more pictures and info about the Estate, it’s lodgings, gardens and history here. And all the sale details from property agent Savills website here. To read more about recently saved Scottish castles, click here.
I truly hate to read announcements like this. So often those who purchase these family homes have little if any appreciation of the history and value of these treasures. I truly hope a trust or someone with the castle's best interest at heart purchases it AND keeps it intact. The other thing I hate is when someone purchases a stately home and then sells off the contents or breaks up the estate for whatever reasons.
And if I won the lottery tomorrow this castle would SO be mine!!
Looks as though we both know what we'd do with a lottery win! Keeping the family heirlooms together is priceless – no pun intended. Look how important those few collections that remain are today. Sigh.
Oh how sad!!!
I vote we form a little cooperative and start buying lottery tickets! Those coworkers in New York are going to walk away with 19 million each once all the taxes and fees are paid!!
How many stately homes can I get for 19 million?
Louisa and Kristine are you ancestors of the Blair line? I am an ancestor and have recently found this information, I am desperately trying to find more family history and links. I was heart broken too when I found the estate was for sale, I would be on board for the lottery win to keep everything together! I would love to hear from anyone who can help me with information! Thanks, Tami
Hi Tami, I'm also an ancestor. I live in Safety Harbor, FL, USA. My sister is the geneologist of our family. Family lore has it that either Bryce Blair or his son, married William Wallace's daughter. The Blair family was a promient political family in Washington,D.C. during the 1800's. Montgomery Blair, my great, great grandfather, was postmaster general under Lincoln. He was a lawyer,who argued and lost the Dred Scott case. The loss of this case contributed to the start of our Civil War. Our geneology chart goes back to Brice Blair, born in 1600 in Aryshire, Scottland. It's a facinating story about the castle and the Blair family. Hmmmm 19 million, eeek maybe Mark Knofpler can buy it for us. Love Mark Knofpler.