Lothians castle aims to scare up £3m asking price

[neil6147]

A CASTLE in the Lothians where Mary Queen of Scots spent her honeymoon is up for sale at offers over £3 million.

Borthwick Castle boasts nine bedrooms, a Great Hall and a minstrel's gallery set in grounds of seven and a half acres.

But potential buyers are warned of ghosts that haunt the building, including that of a young servant girl said to wander its spiral staircases.

The 15th century castle in North Middleton, Midlothian, was a family home for centuries but has been used as a wedding venue and hotel for more than 20 years.

According to the sales particulars, it "occupies a commanding position and stands in attractive grounds with a trout stream running through them".

City estate agent George Goldsmith said the A-listed building would be ideal for entertaining, with its 50ft long vaulted-ceiling hall, and dungeons converted into a wine cellar. The two-bedroom Tower Gate lodge is also included in the sale.

Mr Goldsmith said: "It's a very romantic, unique, historic building. I think it would suit someone who has the ultimate dream of owning a castle in Scotland.

"It could do with some gentle modernisation. It's got great potential for being a private home or a hotel."

The castle was built by Sir William de Borthwick in 1430 as a stronghold capable of withstanding English armies.

Mary Queen of Scots stayed at the castle with the sixth Lord Borthwick on many occasions. She and her third husband, the Earl of Bothwell, sought sanctuary there when they learned Scottish nobles planned to capture them in 1567. A thousand men surrounded the castle, but the Queen escaped through a window in the Great Hall dressed as a pageboy.

Oliver Cromwell laid siege to the castle in 1650, leaving cannonball scars that can still be seen.

An Edinburgh priest is said to have carried out an exorcism in its Red Room, which was haunted by a young servant girl who bore the illegitimate son of Lord Borthwick. She and her baby were put to death by the sword.

A family chancellor is also said to haunt the castle. He was burned to death by the Borthwicks after embezzling money.

The castle was used as a safe storage place during the Second World War for Scottish public records, as well as treasures from the National Library and the Royal Museums of Scotland.

It was then modernised by Helen Bailey, who leased it from the Borthwick family.

English aircraft designer Gerry Loadsman bought it in 1984. He and his family renovated the castle and have been running it as a hotel. Several castles have been sold recently in the Lothians. Seton Castle, in East Lothian, became Scotland's most expensive home when it was sold for £5m last April. Illieston Castle near Broxburn and Gogar Castle, near Gogarburn, were put on the market last May.

So the question is can we all club together on Tartan Blood and buy it . Well for a start if we raid Andrews piggy bank that would give us a start of £45.00

[neil6147]

One of the best storys from the staff was about a female geust who wished to stay in the same room Mary Queen of Scots stayed in for three night. All was well untill during the first night there was a bad thunder storm and them a red liquid started to appear running down the wall. In the morning the geust had her bags packed and said she could not stay in the haunted castle as one night was just to much for her. When the staff asked what the matter was she explained regarding the red Liquid running down the walls. the staff did not beleive her untill they to the room and yes one wall was red. So the staff went up to the next level and into the room above the Mary Queen Of Scots room. Where they discovered that the painters had left the bedroom window open and a tin of red paint had been knocked over by the wind and had emptied on the floor and then down to the ceiling of the room below and then run down the wall.
Answer to your next question :- No the geust did not stay another night she was still to scared.
This is still the talk with the older members of staff.

[mcnass]

Perhaps thats why bloody mary is called bloody mary... ;D

[witch]

Er, ahum, that Mary isn't Bloody Mary. Bloody Mary was the sister and predecessor of Elizabeth I and had the most charming idea to kill everyone who wasn't Roman-Catholic - pretty bloody indeed.

However, I wonder why this haunted castle is or was so favoured for weddings. Are screaming brides such a scream?

[Elly]

Aye quite right, our Mary wasn't bloody.

Maybe brides like a scream now and again

[witch]

Why, yes, my thoughts were on all those ghosts and all those certainly brave and protective young husbands comforting their young wives

[LLady]

Jan 27, 2008 5:27:05 GMT 10 neil6147 said:

One of the best storys from the staff was about a female geust who wished to stay in the same room Mary Queen of Scots stayed in for three night. All was well untill during the first night there was a bad thunder storm and them a red liquid started to appear running down the wall. In the morning the geust had her bags packed and said she could not stay in the haunted castle as one night was just to much for her. When the staff asked what the matter was she explained regarding the red Liquid running down the walls. the staff did not beleive her untill they to the room and yes one wall was red. So the staff went up to the next level and into the room above the Mary Queen Of Scots room. Where they discovered that the painters had left the bedroom window open and a tin of red paint had been knocked over by the wind and had emptied on the floor and then down to the ceiling of the room below and then run down the wall.
Answer to your next question :- No the geust did not stay another night she was still to scared.
This is still the talk with the older members of staff.

Too funny! It owuld be wonderful to own a place with so much history