The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Perthshire landmark in new hands.
Perthshire: Historic landmark sold after being left untouched for a number of years
We had a few offers and one has been accepted though I am just waiting for everything to be signed and sealed.
SALLY CARRACHER
A historic tower which boasts a prime location on a wooded hill near Perth has been sold.
Enjoying views out over the Carse of Gowrie and the River Tay, Binn Hill Tower presents a major restoration project for the new owners.
Built for the 14th Lord Gray of Kinfauns in 1815 as an observatory and romantic feature to enhance the dramatic landscape, it is now neglected and decaying.
The B-listed tower is not connected to any services but plans to make it into a four-bedroom residence have been investigated in the past.
The structure had been put up for sale by Sally Carracher from Edinburgh whose late father, Gavin Alston, had an architect draw up plans to convert it into a home.
“He started to renovate as he intended to live there but eventually lost heart as his health started to fail and the tower has been left untouched for quite a number of years and is in a derelict state,” she said.
She took the unusual step of offering the tower for sale on Gumtree and after it featured in The Courier she received a flurry of interest in the building which had a £28,000 price tag.
“We had a few offers and one has been accepted though I am just waiting for everything to be signed and sealed,” Mrs Carracher confirmed yesterday.
She said she was in “two minds” about the sale as it had been a project close to her late father’s heart but said she was pleased it was going to someone local.
Although not drawn on the price paid, she described it as a “sensible offer” which was not far from what they were looking for.
The tower is a much-loved feature and a group of local residents recently pushed for trees obscuring the structure to be felled to restore the view of the landmark from the A90 Perth to Dundee road.
The Forestry Commission has agreed to this course of action and the hope is this will also improve the views from the adjacent public foot/cycle path over the Carse.