Up for sale, Judy Murray’s ‘little white castle’ on a hill
DESCRIBED as a little white castle that sits above one of the country’s most affluent towns, Khyber House seemed the perfect home for the queen of Scottish tennis.
But a hectic work schedule and new grandmother duties has meant managing such a large property has proved too much for sporting super mum Judy Murray.
The mother of tennis aces Andy and Jamie purchased Khyber House in Bridge of Allan, Stirlingshire, four-and-a-half years ago after she ‘fell in love’ with it at a viewing.
The Scots baronial-style lodge was built in 1930 and features a gym, office, drawing room, dining room and two-car garage.
The sitting room, Mrs Murray’s favourite part of the house, has views over hills and French doors leading out to a decked area and half-acre garden.
However, the 57-year-old has now decided to sell up as she wants to downsize to something ‘more manageable’. She said she only uses all four bedrooms at the house ‘once or twice a year’ when her sons visit.
The tennis coach regularly travels to the south of England to visit her sons and oneyear-old grandchild Sophia but says she wants to keep a base in Scotland which will allow her to fulfil her work and family commitments.
She said: ‘I loved Khyber House from the first time I saw it. It’s like a little white castle sitting above the town and looking out over the hills.
‘I have a pretty hectic travel and work schedule so it’s the perfect place to chill because it’s so quiet and peaceful.
‘The house is big enough to host the whole family on the rare occasions that Jamie and Andy are home, and its central location makes it easy to commute to the bigger cities and the airports. Bridge of Allan is a gorgeous town with lots of character.’
She added: ‘I travel a lot and my kids are both based down south so I spend quite a bit of time in London.
‘I cannot envisage myself ever living outside of Scotland but my work takes me down south a lot more nowadays.’
Mrs Murray paid £815,000 for the property in September, 2012. It is now being marketed by Savills for offers over £825,000.
Harry Maitland, from Savills, said: ‘She loves the area, which will always be home to her. That corner of Scotland is where her family are and the boys will always want to go back there too.’
He added: ‘It doesn’t take long to realise whose house you are in. There are lovely pictures of the boys playing tennis and tennis gear around the house.’