ONE of Scotland’s most historic homes has attracted worldwide interest after it was placed on the market for more than £1.5 million.
The Craig, also known as Craig Castle or Craig House, in Angus has records dating from the 13th century.
It sits just to the south of Montrose Basin and nature reserve, and is believed to have been occupied since it was built.
Tradition claims Sir James Douglas spent hia final night in Scotland there protecting the heart of Robert The Bruce, which he had promised to take to the Holy Land on a crusade.
It is also believed King James V was a guest twice, as was Mary, Queen of Scots, who may have set fire to the house during another visit believing it to be an enemy stronghold.
The Old Pretender James Edward Stuart, Bonnie Prince Charlie’s father, is also thought to have passed his final night at Craig Castle before departing into exile to France after the failure of the 1715 Jacobite Rising.
It currently belongs to Americans Betsy and John Horn, who are now returning to the US.
For the first 17 years of their time in Scotland, Mrs Horn, a writer, and Mr Horn, a retired sportsman, rented the dower house of Cortachy Castle, also in Angus.
Mrs Horn said: “We were at the supermaarket and I was stocking up with magazines when I came across this very attractive house being advertised. John suggested we go and look at it. Four days later we bought it.
“We fell madly in love with it, John with the garden and me with the house. It is very liveable, not one of these piles with 12 bedrooms.”
The Craig has a breakfast room, library, vaulted cellar and sauna, a kitchen, morning room, dining room, study and office on the first floor, and six bedrooms on the second floor.
The grounds, which total 20 acres overall, include an orchard, walled kitchen garden, paved terrace and greenhouse.
There is a level of decorative detail throughout the house, including ornate friezes and fireplace mantels Mrs Horn continued: “As an American taking on a very historic Scottish property, I felt I owed some sort of legacy to it, so I decided to re-create the renaissance feeling. We flew over our friend, the artist Richard Jordan, who specialises in historical painting and architectural drawing.”
Ruaraidh Ogilvie, director of selling agents Savills in Brechin, said: “The Craig is not only historic, but is also an exceptional family home and it is no surprise that it is attracting worldwide interest. We have had inquiries and viewers all over the UK, from Aberdeen to Sussex, and from much further afield, including the US, Singapore and the Caribbean.”
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