A castle which has been abandoned for 280 years is set to be brought back to life with huge £2 million plans.
Baltersan Castle was built in 1584 in Maybole, Scotland, following the death of Egidia Blair, Lady Row, and the subsequent demolition of her house on the same site.
It is a Category A listed building and is listed as at moderate risk by the Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland, having last been occupied in 1745.
But now, the castle is under new ownership, taking over from James Brown, who safeguarded the site for more than 30 years.
Italian computer engineer Angelo Ovidi has bought the site for an undisclosed amount and hopes to restore Baltersan by transforming it into a music school and arts events venue, with additional plans to launch food and drinks brands using the castle’s image.
Mr Ovidi, now a consultant based in North Wales, first became interested in Baltersan in 2018, and he told the Herald: “This is a fantastic place and I am excited to become its custodian.
“Baltersan has so much history and I am sure we can use that as a brand to generate income through local produce to both protect the castle’s future and support the local community.
“It is not impossible for us to restore this property if everything goes to plan, although I am trying to keep my feet on the ground.
“Restoration can be done in different stages. The first is to make the castle stable, then fix the bigger problem. I am keen to work with Scottish specialists, including Scottish stonemasons, to do all of this.”
Nicholas Howie, a lawyer at Lindsays who advised the sellers, has said that this purchase represents an appetite to invest in historic Scottish landmarks which capture the imagination.
He said: “Selling a castle like this is pretty special. Its physical state and historic worth make it very difficult to value, but I think we found a shared passion and meeting of minds with James and Angelo.
“The vision for restoration is ambitious – and clearly a lot needs to be done. But, with the right sort of finance behind it, this could turn out to be an incredibly rewarding investment if Baltersan can be brought back to life.
“There is a real market out there for people keen to invest in a slice of Scottish history, whether that be to live there or for other reasons, sometimes involving links to their family’s past. It’s a fascinating area of the Scottish investment market.”
The previous owner, James Brown, bought Baltersan Castle in 1992 with the hopes of restoring it, but the 2008 financial crash killed the funding he was set to recieve.
He said: “Baltersan’s architectural and historical value is exceptional. It’s a remarkable place. I am so pleased to have found a new custodian, someone who appreciates its history and can continue the work that we have started.
“I do think this building is going to be saved. It will be restored.”
