Rent out aristocrat’s boudoir? Well, it is all about the bottom line
IT is the boudoir where Lady Monica Bullough is said to have entertained King Edward VII during their illicit affair.
Now her infamous private chamber – complete with bite marks on her antique four-poster-bed – will help to transform the fortunes of a Scots castle.
Escalating repair costs at Kinloch Castle, on the Isle of Rum, meant that the former pleasure palace of industrialist Sir George Bullough and his second wife was being threatened with demolition.
But the tales of debauchery linked to the property – which led to Rum being labelled an island of sin – could prove a key selling point. Guests are to be offered the chance to hire the Grade A-listed mansion, including Lady Monica’s quarters, which have been preserved for more than half a century.
It is there, beneath a painting of herself in the nude, that the lady of the manor reputedly embarked on extramarital encounters with a number of men, including the King, in the early 20th Century.
Years after the death of her husband, Lady Monica sold Kinloch to the state in 1957, in a bid to ensure its preservation for future generations. Yet in recent years the castle – which once boasted a staff of 100 and a menagerie of alligators, hummingbirds and turtles – has become riddled with decay.
Last year, owners Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) admitted up to £20 million was needed for essential improvements and repairs.
With no ‘operational need’ for the building and no prospective buyer, SNH bosses concluded: ‘The options are stark – we either find a way to generate significant funds over many years to invest in renovating the building and securing a cost-effective use for the building, or we accept that the castle has no future and should be demolished.’
Now, the Kinloch Castle Friends Association, which hopes to take ownership, has pledged to raise £8 million to enable the property to be rented out and pay its way.
Secretary Catherine Duckworth said: ‘Lady Monica didn’t take away very much at all when she left, it was as if she wanted to leave the memory behind intact.
‘We have group members from Switzerland, France, Germany, Turkey, Australia... they come from all over and they are all fascinated by the place. The end goal is that the castle is restored and sustainable and viable.’
An SNH spokesman said: ‘We are working closely with the Friends to support them putting together their case to transfer the castle, and look forward to receiving their revised business plan.’