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YOURS FOR £325K: QUEEN VICTORIA'S SCOTTISH RETREAT

Royal Cottage is up for grabs for £325,000...but you'll need deep pockets

Monday September 29,2008

By Geoff Marsh for express.co.uk

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A loch-side house built for Queen Victoria is to be sold, it was announced today.

The cottage on the shores of Loch Katrine was built for the royal opening of Glasgow’s water supply scheme in 1859.

Protocol required that a house be built for her, rather than using mobile accommodation.

But its windows were shattered by a 21-gun salute during the official opening, making it unfit for her to stay there.
Instead she used it as a shelter from the rain.

The C-listed building was in later years used by Glasgow councillors for holiday accommodation, and by Scottish Water for staff accommodation.

The building, near Stronachlachar in Stirlingshire, has been empty for several years and is said to need complete refurbishment.

Owners Scottish Water said offers over £325,000 were being sought for the property, which has been converted into three separate dwellings.

Scottish Water asset management director Geoff Aitkenhead said: “We are delighted to be offering Royal Cottage for public sale.

“The house has great appeal because of the building itself, and its beautiful setting, but we believe the fact that it was built for and used by Queen Victoria will make it even more attractive to potential buyers.

“Scottish Water has decided that the house is surplus to our requirements and, as with any asset that we decide to sell, it is being offered on the open market.