Mansion With Military Links Up For Sale
Historic Ochardton House in Dumfries and Galloway dates back to 1881 and boasts a colourful past.
The 50-room mansion which sits in five and a half acres of gardens has been a hospital, a hotel, a school and an artists’ retreat.
The property, which includes its own cinema, is on the market for offers over POUNDS1.5million with Buccleuch John Sale.
Selling agent Nick Wright from the Dumfries office said the property was of “significant architectural importance”.
He said: “The present house dates back to 1881 but there has been an earlier house on the site and the mansion has a wonderful sense of history about it.
“When you consider that Orchardton was once a hospital for army officers during the latter years of World War Two and then a hotel, residential school and creative retreat it’s hardly surprising it conjures up an impression of a by gone era.
“This is a rare chance to buy a piece of Scotland’s history”.
Orchardton towers over four storeys and boasts five impressive circular turrets.
Since 2003, the mansion has been used as a private house and has undergone sympathetic modernisation, including a new kitchen, bathrooms, extensive roof repairs and a state-of-the-art central heating system.
The imposing property features grand hallways, huge fireplaces and decorative panelling.
Large, light reception rooms offer a warm welcome on the ground floor and on the first and second floor there are 16 bedrooms in all.
The lower ground floor features two self contained flats, storage space and a workshop.
Mr Wright said Orchardton’s renowned gardens had once been famous across the country.
He said: “From 1891 a head gardener and three assistants were employed to care for the gardens and there still remain today some of the rare shrubs which flourished in this sheltered environment.
“Huge rhododendrons flank the view to the bay, offering vivid splashes of colour when in flower.
“There are still some specimen trees within the grounds and Orchardton has a lot to offer the right buyer”.
Visit www.johnsale.co.uk for further information.
Notes to Editor
In 1951, the mansion was bought at auction for POUNDS2,500 by a Mrs Templeton who ran it as a family hotel (weekly rate between four and eight guineas) until 1956.
In 1960 it became a residential school for children. The school closed in 1981 and ay empty before it was turned into a residential conference centre and later as a retreat for a resident community of artists and crafts people.
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