House that has history in walls
Former manse has seen scandal – and smugglers
IF walls had ears, what stories they could tell and nowhere is that more true than at Kirkside House, whose venerable stones could spin the kind of yarn that would make a minister blush. The former manse dates from 1813 but a previous property from around 1530 is thought to have been incorporated into its construction.
So its walls could explain why the Rev James Mitchell died in April 1742 ‘after an immoral life of scandals’.
They could tell of the Rev Andrew Burns, who would jump on his horse and wave his hat to warn the keepers of local illicit whisky stills that the Exciseman was on his way.
Equally interesting, though less controversial, the house can recall having a future US President as a temporary neighbour when a young George W Bush visited the area before his rise to the top of American politics.
It’s this fascinating litany of legend that has captivated the present owner of Kirkside House, Diana Eason.
She has delved into the past to produce evidence of her home’s participation in activity, some of it, at times, most unholy.
Hanging in her house is a list of former ministers going back two centuries who called the place home.
There is even a replica advertisement from November 1904, announcing a ‘Displenishing Sale’ to mark the departure of one of them, the Rev Neil McBride.
Among the items put up for sale were mangles, hair mattresses, a telescope table, a milk churn and two young cows ‘in calf’.
However, for all her fascination with the past, Mrs Eason has cheerily cast off her home’s incarnations as an old manse and a 1970s hotel.
She has transformed Kirkside House into an elegant rural retreat, located in Kirkton of Glenisla, near Kirriemuir, Angus.
It is actually a collection of properties, formed around the main six-bedroom house. There is Kirk Hall, originally the church hall, which is divided into an office and games room and two sheds with original cobblestone floors.
Then there is Glebe Cottage, a selfcontained apartment which has proved highly popular as a weekly holiday let. It has a lovely sitting-cum-dining area with wood-burning stove, a conservatory, small sun room, kitchen, bathroom and two bedrooms.
Typical of the top reviews on TripAdvisor is the comment from this summer: ‘Beautiful, with lots of lovely finishing touches.’
As if that were not enough, there is a building plot on the property’s land, with separate entrance and planning permission for a five-bedroom home.
Kirkside House itself welcomes you with a choice of public rooms, either side of the hallway. Both the drawing room and sitting room have fireplaces, each housing a woodburning stove.
A door leads from the hall into the kitchen, which has fitted units and an Aga and space for a dining table. Off the kitchen lies a utility room and secondary kitchen, with cooker, hob, sink, fridge and dishwasher.
There’s a playroom and study beyond and a second hallway. Both passageways have a staircase to the upper floor, where you will find the six bedrooms.
The area’s involvement in romantic tales includes stories of smuggling and illicit whisky distilling in the remote parts of Glen Isla. That 18th Century minister, Mr Burns, was so supportive of the smugglers that he would keep a watch on the hotel opposite the manse for the arrival of the Excisemen. As soon as the last officer went into the hotel – which is still there – he would jump on a horse and ride into the glen, waving his hat and warning the distillers: ‘The Philistines be upon thee, Samson!’
Only two miles away, the furure US President George W Bush would spend childhood summers in an idyllic location at Brewlands Lodge with his family after his father became friendly with two Scottish businessman who backed his oil business in the 1950s.
Mrs Eason adds: ‘There’s another tale about a ghost. A woman in Glen Isla is said to have poisoned her husband and...’ Ah, but that’s another story. Offers over £715,000 to Katherine Farmer at Savills, Perth. Tel 01738 477525 or email kfarmer@savills.com.