Derelict mill transformed into stunning family pad

The soft gurgle of a stream, lambs bleating, and the inquiring tap of a blackbird’s beak on the window – it all sounds too idyllic for today’s housing market.

And yet such a beautiful scene really does exist and has taken more than a decade to create, at Mill of Crimonmogate in Lonmay near Fraserburgh.

Grade C listed, this stunning former mill has been standing for 210 years after it was built by Archibald Simpson.

It’s a curious mix of traditional stone, interior quirk, and modern ideas that wouldn’t look out of place on Grand Designs.

An old fashioned mill wheel stands as a nod to the past, and the mill has truly been bought back to life after it stood derelict for roughly 20 years.

The building is typical of an architect’s work with open plan space and genius use of stonework – but it was in fact put together by a welder who spent 12 years transforming the mill from a shell to an amazing family home.

The current owner has revelled in the privacy which the mill has offered and now has plans for an ambitious project using glass as the main building material.

He has become as much a part of the mill’s history as its former workers, but wants no recognition for his part in the renovations and asked not to be named.

The owner was determined the mill would rise from the rubble after many people told him his vision was simply too big for a man already trying to hold down a full-time job.

“I think it made me more determined when people told me I wouldn’t be able to complete the work, I’m so proud I made it to the end but I’ve always been a very private person,” he said.

“I like to keep to myself, I’ve come to the conclusion that the house is just too big for me but I still love chilling out here.

“I’ve never been one to blow my own trumpet, sometimes I look around Mill of Crimonmogate has been painstakingly transformed. Ellie House explored its modern interior

and it’s hard to believe how much work has been done though.

“When I bought the mill I had a vision and over the years there has been a few times when I doubted that I could achieve it.

“I had help sometimes from builders wanting weekend work but on the whole, it’s all been me.

“I didn’t want the mill to lose its character but I wanted it to be different as well.”

‘Different’ is not a word which does the mill justice by any means, and the main entrance immediately brings you into a gleaming open-plan dining and lounge area complete with split glass staircase.

Amazingly, this room has never been used and there is the option to buy all furniture throughout the house by separate negotiation.

It offers a fabulous entertaining space and tiled flooring adds a modern gleam.

The kitchen has more traditional elements with a range style cooker and extensive work unit space.

The listed nature of the mill meant the owner was not allowed to alter windows, but this basic planning condition has in fact worked in his favour.

A window just above the sink adds even more character whilst a brick archway which the owner built by hand leads through to the family area.

This “snug” is where the owner spends most of his time thanks to the multifuel stove.

The kitchen was little more than rubble when he first set to work, making the transformation even more impressive.

Many of the materials used have been reclaimed from other buildings across Aberdeenshire and even Glasgow, including the beamed ceiling and stone walls.

“I didn’t use second hand materials to keep the cost down, I just wanted to inject even more character.

“Some of my material came from a hospital in Aberdeen and it just adds quirkiness, the last thing I wanted was for the mill to look bland.”

There’s no danger of that, and the surprises just keep coming as you head upstairs where the staircase divides into two.

On the left side of the house is a luxurious master bedroom complete with en-suite, and double doors lead out to the garden and glass balustrade where you can drink in the views.

There is also a second good sized double bedroom.

Head over to the right side of the house where there are a further two double bedrooms, one of which contains a handmade bed which is available by separate negotiation.

“I had wood left over, I knew what sort of bed I wanted and when I looked online the prices were crazy,” he said.

“So I built it myself and I’m really pleased with how it turned out, I just like unusual things.

“The same goes for the family bathroom where I picked a steel and glass bath – there have only been five such baths ever made.”

The final bedroom offers plenty of space and boasts a charming balcony.

The current owner has landscaped the surrounding gardens which consist of half an acre of land, and the stream which runs down the side of the property belongs to the mill.

A summer house offers a hot tub which can be purchased separately and there is also a double garage and log sheds.

The owner is eager to start work on his next project, but Mill of Crimonmogate now stands as proof of a vision which slowly and surely became a reality.

“It’s so peaceful here and I’ll really miss the place, it’s been a lot of hard work over the years and I hope a family will come along and fill the place.

“It’s different but that’s the beauty of the mill, there’s no place quite like it.”

Offers should be made of more than £460,000.