Country house sale sparks overseas interest

SHROUDED in woodlands just a stone’s throw from the River Tay, many locals had no idea that the country house even existed.

However, when the Victorian-era Chesterhill House, near Newport, went on the market in July for offers over £200,000, which is less than the average cost of a detached home in Scotland, it sparked interest from afar.

The building, which is effectively a small castle and comes with more than three acres of land, captured people’s imaginations from London to the US and New Zealand; and was even the subject of a feature on Fox News.

Estate agents Bell Ingram said they have never experienced such immense interest in a property. The building was designed in the Tudor-Italianate style in 1870 and is C-listed. It features a listed oval-walled garden, castellated parapets and a square plan tower. The manor is said to have been built to replace an older home build by a Dundee merchant which was lost in a fire.

The three-floor structure is in need of “complete renovation” with the detached garages on the site in a state of disrepair. However Bell Ingram say the property has “immense potential”.

The closing date for offers was yesterday and Bell Ingram property assistant Moira Webley said the firm hopes the next owner can restore the property to its former glory.