Reprieve for Ballintore castle in Scotland
Written by Karen Bryan
At last Balintore Castle in Angus, Scotland, is going to be restored. The castle has been derelict as long as I can remember. My grandparents lived in the nearby Kirriemuir and I was always amazed that such a grand building was just being left to rot. Evidently there have been several attempts to buy Balintore Castle but in common with many other historic buidlings, the main stumbling block has been the unwillingness of current owners to sell at a realistic price. The castle was faced with possible demolition until the local council used their compulsory purchase powers after the previous owner failed to respond to repairs notices. The council will now transfer ownership to a buyer who will restore the castle as a private home.
Ballintore Castle
I think that is it important to preserve historic buildings, even if they do stay in private ownership. It makes a visit to Scotland all the more culturally interesting if there are beautiful buildings in good condition. If you would like to see the castle there are walks in the area. Again it shows that it is necessary for there to be some state intervention in order to preserve our past.
How could anyone possibly want to make a wonderful looking building go to ruin. I wonder how much it’ll cost to renovate.
Thanks for your sympathetic comments on Balintore Castle. You will be able to follow the restoration on the Web, see:
http://balintorecastle.googlepages.com/balintorecastlehome
David, I will follow the restoration with interest. Le me know once your proposed blog is up and running, Be aware though, that writing and maintaining a blog can be quite addictive and time consuming, you want to have enough time to work on the restoration!
Karen, your encouragment is vey welcome! The planned “blog” is only intended to be occasional i.e. whenever there has been a significant development in the restoration.
I am happy with this “quid pro quo” level of blogging that comes with the territory of taking on a heritage building, and rest assured that my main concern is the building. The first blog entry on the initial survey of the building should be available soon.
Look forward to seeing the project progress.
I went for a look at the castle when I was in Angus on the 17 April and took some photos. The castle is located in an amazing spot with wonderful views down the glen.
I live quite near to this castle and was delighted to hear that it had been bought for restoration. It’s an amazing place. All the very best David…I know a lot of people who were very happy to hear that the castle isn’t going to be left crumble away.
Yes. Jen, It is an amazing place which you don’t truly appreciate until you see it in real life rather than photos. It is unfortunate that it has been neglected for so long.
i used to live in balintore 2 mins walk from the castle, and i think it’s about time someone restored it. it is an breath taking castle and how anyone could let it rot like it has is unbelievable to me.
Yes Vicki, it is amazing that such a fine castle was allowed to fall into such a state of disrepair. I’m not sure if the restoration work has started as I checked on the link:
http://balintorecastle.googlepages.com/balintorecastlehome
and there has been no recent update
I had a look at Ballintore when on holiday at neargy Auldallan in June 2007 and took quite a few photographs (I wasn’t sure if I was trespassing!!).
I hope to return this June and wonder if there would be any visible signs of repair by then — not least the sadly collapsed ‘bay’ window.
Iain, it will be interesting to see the progress at Ballintore, I also hope to visit sometime in the Summer.
hope all is going well David. my husband and I fell in love with the place 26 years ago before we got engaged and a lottery win would have had us in competition with you! Dont get disheartened whatever it takes. Balintore really needs some love.
wishing you every success. (and a lottery win for either of us!)
Marion, thanks for your comment, yes the renovation is a massive project.
This is wonderful news. My brother and I have a cottage that looks direclty across to Ballintore and it has always appeared so derelict and forlorn. It’ll be wonderful to see new life breathed into the building
Bill – thanks for your comment. You’re lucky to live in such a beautiful location, my Mum was from Kirrie. I hope to visit Ballintore this Summer.
As mentioned earlier in February, I’m holidaying at Auldallan from the 29th and would have been interested in more news. There appears to have been no further mention of progress from Davie Johnston – is he a private owner or does he represent the local council who reportedly purchased it compulsorily?
The website quoted above in David’s first email hasn’t changed since I first looked at it.
What happened, I wonder, to the survey of the building mentioned in David’s second and last email?
Iain – thanks for your comment. I haven’t been to Balintore recently so can’t comment if there has been any progress.
I can only suggest that you email David at the email address on the site reached through the link on his name on his comment above.
Takes time to make plans. I hear scaffolding will go up soon. Stop that roof leaking.
Chris – thanks fo update, would be good if roof were repaired before Winter,
Do you live near Ballintore?
Article about Balintore in local paper today. Looks like windows have been boarded up and roof been repaired so it’s wind and watertight. Article can be found in Dundee Courier and Advertiser…sorry, not sure of web address but well worth a read. Full of admiration for the owner of Balintore. At last…the castle is owned by someone who really does care.
Jen – thanks for update. I did intend to visit Balintore in the Summer but as ever time flew past and I never got around to it. Maybe in the Spring.
we went up to balintore today, we live in glamis and fancied a drive. its a lovely building and we were looking for some history on the building. also, we wondered if/when restoration starts?
Hi Jamie
Go to http://www.buildingsatrisk.org.uk. You’ll find a bit of history about the building there. There were reports in the Dundee courier that the roof had been repaired and windows boarded up. Imagine it’s a huge project that will take years to complete. Haven’t been up that way recently (although I live within 10 miles of the castle) It’s a lovely building in a great setting and I hope the present owner can find the funds (and the energy!) to realise his dream of seeing this great place restored to it’s former glory.