Scottish Castle Attacked By British Army Up For Sale

A Scottish castle 'attacked' by the British Army in the 1950s is up for sale for £300,000.

Set in 11 acres of grounds, including a small lochan and the remnants of a shallow-water curling pond, Cavers Castle was first home to the Balliols, who briefly ruled Scotland in the 13th and 14th centuries, and then the Earls of Douglas for a further 500 years.

By the early 20th century the 800-year-old castle, located in the Scottish borders, had grown substantially and featured 64 rooms after being extensively remodelled during the Victorian-era.

Decline however set in and by the 1950s the 23rd Earl could no longer afford its upkeep, handing it over to the government in lieu of taxes having stripped it of all its furniture, fixtures and fittings.

Speaking at the time the aristocrat said: “I tried to sell it – at any price. I advertised it up and down the country, I approached the county council and the government. I asked my MP, I offered it to the National Trust. I suggested it might be an hotel, a holiday home, a school, a hospital, a place for old folk, and I would have let it go for £4,000."

"They all said that whatever happened it mustn’t be demolished, but nobody would take it. So now it goes for whatever its insides will fetch as scrap and I’ll be left with a ruin.” 

In 1953 the British Army, obviously in need of some target practice, were given carte blanche to have a crack at demolishing the once great home.

Setting about it with huge amounts of explosives they succeeded in destroying much of the Victorian extensions. Cordite was however no match for the castle's mighty medieval tower house with its 12 foot thick stone walls.

Having lain ruined for over 60 years the castle is now up for grabs with the potential to turn it into a truly unique family home. 

If it's your idea of the ultimate project and you're in the market for a 'doer-upper' then click here.

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(Pictures courtesy of Rettie & Co, Melrose)