Online appeal to help finish work on remote castle

Restorer’s crowdfunder plea for funds to bring 50-roomed Victorian Gothic building back to life and realise his dream of hosting community events

A six-figure crowdfunder has been launched in the latest stage of one man’s mission to restore a spectacular castle in the remote Angus glens.

Balintore Castle has been an allconsuming labour of love for Dr David Johnston since Angus Council sold him the 50-roomed Victorian Gothic building halfway up Cat Law, north of Kirriemuir, in 2007.

The one-time sporting lodge was at the centre of a compulsory purchase wrangle before Dr Johnston finally secured the dilapidated A-listed property, and the past 13 years have seen the academic painstakingly tackle the mammoth project as time and finances allow.

He has charted progress in an online blog and, after reaching the milestone of completing the roof, floors and windows of Balintore, has now launched the £100,000 campaign to complete the restoration and realise the dream of turning the 1860 property into a setting which could host community events.

Dr Johnston reckons restoration of the castle’s Great Hall could itself soak up £1 million, but is hopeful his determination so far will see the job done for much less.

He said: I bought this A-listed property on condition that I save the building.

“This has now been achieved – the roof has been fixed, new floors and new windows have been installed.

“However, at the very heart of the building lies the cavernous, magnificent and sadly ruinous Great Hall, which is too costly for me to restore as an individual.

“I would love to be able to restore this room in my lifetime and friends have repeatedly pestered me to obtain external funding. Now that I have consolidated the exterior of the castle, at great personal cost, the time is indeed right.”

The restoration enthusiast said he hopes the triple height space could be used as a music venue, theatre, cinema, or to host weddings.

Balintore was originally built as a sporting lodge after renowned Victorian architect William Burn was commissioned by David Lyon, a Tory politician who made his fortune through the East India Company.

It remained in the Lyon family after his death in 1872 and was subsequently only used during the grouse shooting season. It fell into increasing disrepair and dereliction from the 1960s.