Baltersan Castle, one mile south of Maybole is set to receive a Building Repair Grant of £492,406 from Historic Scotland. This is subject to the owners securing £2 million of investment cash and negotiating the services of an established hospitality management company to ensure the ongoing sustainability of the castle.
James Brown, director of Lichtsome Hoose Ltd said, “Funding the rescue of historic buildings is never easy, but we are now on the home straight to create a unique, high-quality holiday home in a 16th century castle just six miles from Turnberry.”
Mr Brown’s plans for the castle, which is a prominent landmark near Crossraguel Abbey, is to form a small exclusive private residence club where members will have occupancy rights for one third of the year, and remaining weeks will be let on a one-off basis by a hospitality company.
Baltersan, which will have five twin or double bedchambers and a great hall for banqueting, has seen a succession of famous visitors to its ruins including Robert Burns, Robert Adam and John Keats. It was sketched by Charles Rennie Mackintosh in 1895 during one of his holiday trips to Dunure with friends from the Glasgow School of Art.
“The last time I went looking for investment capital was in the nerve-wracking atmosphere of the Dragons’ Den.” said Mr Brown. An experience that left him more determined than ever to succeed. “I was treated very well and indeed came close to winning cash. But I won the respect and admiration of the Dragons which has sustained me in reaching this stage. The show was even broadcast in New Zealand and that brought me sales enquiries.”
Mr Brown would welcome approaches from both investors and hospitality companies. He concludes, “This is a rare and exciting opportunity for the tourism industry. It comes round only once in a lifetime and it comes at a very promising time for Ayrshire with major developments at Dumfries House and a new Robert Burns museum at Alloway.”
Historic Scotland is an executive agency of the Scottish Government charged with safeguarding the nation’s historic environment. The agency is fully accountable to Scottish Ministers and through them to the Scottish Parliament.
Further information: http://www.baltersan.com
