Kinross House, north of Edinburgh, was called the most beautiful piece of architecture in Scotland by Daniel Defoe and it is still a hugely impressive building. The property is on the market with a guide price of £4.25 million, reduced from its pre-launch “unofficial” guide price of £5 million. Designed and built in the late 17th century by Sir William Bruce — sometimes called the Christopher Wren of North Britain — as his home, it is one of the first examples of classical architecture north of the Border.
Though maintaining the property could be a burden — it is set in just over 76 acres and upkeep of the gardens alone, considered one of the finest formal gardens in Scotland, costs about £60,000 a year. The gardens are open to visitors, but entrance fees only bring in a nominal income.
There are 16 bedrooms, a playroom, nursery, and an imperious garden room, which has a 17th-century Flemish tapestry. The tapestry, like much of the furniture, may be sold for an additional sum. A few smaller rooms have been opened up to create a huge kitchen/family room. The house has been well maintained, and there’s even a ballroom, filled with ceiling-high portraits of the Montgomeries, and several cottages.
Since property prices have fallen, however, prospecitve buyers have been reluctant to overbid, even if the guide price is low. David at Moray Property said that properties in Scotland are now unlikely to sell for much more than their guide prices, on average only between 2-10%, particularly those costing more than £2 million !
Lottery ticket anyone.... ?
Until the next time,
Mr Jackson.
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