ROSSEND CASTLE BURNTISLAND FIFE
Rossend Castle BURNTISLAND, FIFE, KY3 0DT Edinburgh 37 km (22 miles), St Andrews 49 km (31 Miles), Perth 56 km (35 miles). (Distances approximate). A fine example of a Scottish L-shaped Tower House dating from the 14th century, reconstructed in the 16th century and restored in the late 20th century. Currently used as a landmark headquarters office Planning re-applied for for change of use to residential, thereby giving the purchaser the ability to create an exceptional Scots Residence. Current Accommodation: Ground Floor: Entrance Hall, Turnpike Staircase, Old Kitchen, 3 Store Rooms, Kitchenette, WC s. First Floor: Great Hall, Queen Mary s Room, Reception Room. Second Floor: Second Great Hall, 3 Offices. Third Floor: Third Great Hall, 4 Offices. Fourth Floor: Office, Penthouse Office, Store Rooms, WC s. Car Parking Area. Derelict house ( The Sugar House ). South facing terraces. Generous Gardens. About 947 sq m (10,193 Sq feet) of accommodation on a Gross Internal Floor Area Basis excluding Large Structural Walls Potential to form an iconic Scottish home of up to 8 bedrooms. About 1.2 Acres
SITUATION The Royal Burgh of Burntisland is a charming historic town which in recent years has seen considerable regeneration and has a population of approximately 7000. Burntisland is steeped in history and in times past it was the ferry port for those travelling from Fife to Edinburgh and beyond. The use of the ferry declined in 1890 when the Forth Rail Bridge was built, but Burntisland remained a busy shipping port for coal for many years to follow. The Parish Church was built in around 1592 1595 and has recently been restored. In 1603 the translation of the Bible into English was authorised by King James VI at the church. In 1633, King Charles I s ship, Blessing sank off the coast of Burntisland, pre-empting, in recent years, a search for the cargo of the Blessing. Burntisland has a plethora of local activities including an 18-hole golf course, bowling green, pipe band, cub, scout and drama groups, leisure centre with swimming pool, sailing club, diving school and much more. There are local nursery, primary and secondary schools. The town also has a good range of local amenities including a supermarket. Further facilities are available in Edinburgh as well as Dunfermline, the principal town of south west Fife, and Kirkcaldy. The pretty coastal villages of the East Neuk of Fife and St Andrews, the Home of Golf are all within easy reach. Edinburgh has an excellent choice of private schooling augmented by the likes of Dollar Academy in Clackmannanshire and St Leonards in St Andrews. There are universities in both Edinburgh and St. Andrews. There is a railway station in Burntisland offering regular services to Edinburgh and Dundee as well as destinations in between. The M90 and Forth Road Bridge, about 15-20 minutes drive, allow swift communications to Edinburgh and its international airport as well as north towards Perth and Dundee. HISTORICAL NOTE McGibbon & Ross in their well known book Castellated and Domestic Architecture of Scotland (1887) place Rossend Castle in the Fourth Period (1542 to 1700). Young in his book History of Burntisland reports the existence of an earlier Keep or Central Tower dating from 1119 and known as The Tower of Kingorne Wester later referred to in old Title Deeds (prior to 1382) as Burntisland Castle. By 1382 Rossend seems to be called Abbot s Hall with Durie of Durie, an Abbot of Dunfermline in possession. Peter Durie of Durie began rebuilding in 1552. An ornate tempera painted timber ceiling was installed c.1600 and discovered in 1957 beneath the later plaster ceiling. It is now preserved as a centre-piece in the National Museum in Edinburgh. Sir James Melville died in 1664 and the Barony was acquired by Sir James Wemyss in 1666. Towards the end of the Century the Wemyss Family re-modelled the top of the Castle. By 1765 Murdoch Campbell from Skye was the owner and probably responsible for the Celtic name of Rossend. In 1873 James Shepherd purchased Rossend and it eventually passed to the Town Council in 1952 at which time it was in poor condition. Saved from demolition through intervention by the Secretary of State it was purchased by Robert Hurd & Partners in 1975. During restoration two secret stairs in the ground floor stone vaults were discovered. Rossend was re-opened on St Andrew s Day (30 November 1977) and at the time the restoration won a number of awards.
ROSSEND CASTLE BURNTISLAND The timber doors to Queen Mary s Room and Office at first floor were returned by the owners of nearby Easterheughs Castle who had purchased them together with the original panelling when the Castle was due for demolition. Source of Information:- Historic Scotland s Statutory List. General Description Rossend Castle is a fine example of an L-Shaped Scottish Tower House principally dating from the 16th Century. Rebuilt in 1554 and incorporating a 13th Century ground floor, the medieval lancet windows are still visible, Rossend Castle was further remodelled in the 17th Century with the addition of the Garret and West Wing and was raised to 4 storeys. In the 19th Century the property was further enlarged and then converted to offices in 1977 by the well-known architects, The Hurd Rolland Partnership, when they also added the west stair tower and glass gabled caphouse. The castle is listed Category B. The castle currently remains in use as landmark office headquarters with appropriate cabling for modern needs and electric heating and lighting. Elevation plans are reproduced herein and both the existing floor plans and a proposed layout for residential use (as previously consented and now re-applied for) are also reproduced herein. The castle retains numerous features of architectural interest including main and secondary turnpike staircases, crowstepped gables, Mary Queen of Scots room with its panelled walls and notable marble fireplace, 3 great halls, ornate plaster mouldings, armorial panel of Abbot George Durie over the front door, panel bearing the Arms of Margaret of Scotland at second floor level, crenelated parapet, the barrel vaulted rooms throughout the ground floor and the numerous slit windows characteristic of castles of its type. The plans prepared for conversion to residential show a proposed layout over the 4 main floors as follows: Ground Floor: Lower Hall, Store, Games Room, Wine Cellar, Cloakroom with WC, Laundry. First Floor: Great Hall, Kitchen, Family Room/Snug (Queens Mary s Room). Second Floor: Master Bedroom Suite with Dressing Room and Bathroom, Bedrooms 2 and 3, Bathroom. Third Floor: Study, Bedrooms 4 and 5, Bathroom, Long Gallery or Bedrooms 6, 7 and 8 Fourth Floor: Flexible use space. The gross internal floor area is in the region of 947 sq m (10,193 sq feet) excluding the large internal structural walls. There may be scope for further development in the grounds subjects to the appropriate consents The Sugar House is a roofless former dwelling. The plans for residential conversion propose the development of a triple car garage in the grounds to the north of the castle. The current accommodation can be described as follows: GROUND FLOOR Entered through a solid wooden door leading directly onto a turnpike stone staircase rising to the first floor. A solid wooden inner door leads to: The Ground Floor Passage. (N +W) Barrel vaulted ceiling. Leading to: The Old Kitchen (E) 8.86m x 5.13m (max sizes) Former kitchen with white painted stone walls, barrel vaulted ceiling and massive old fireplace arch, previously housing the range. Door leads to: Store Room 1 (S) 6.22m x 5.13m. With stone walls and barrel-vaulted ceiling. Store room 2 (S) 4.66m x 4.08m. With stone walls and barrel-vaulted ceiling. (Former Buttery with secret stair access to Great Hall above) Cloakrooms 4.60m x 3.96m overall. This room has been subdivided into ladies and gents toilets. Stone walls and barrel vaulted ceiling.
At the end of the passageway there is a Kitchenette (W) 5.6m x 1.35m Incorporating a stainless-steel sink and under counter storage units. Store Room 3 (E) 4.49m x 4.04m Accessed off the kitchen with stone walls and vaulted ceiling. Turnpike Stone Stairs (N+W) feature a recessed ornate panel depicting 2 dolphins either side of a thistle rise to: FIRST FLOOR The Great Hall (S+N + W) 15.89m x 6.23m (max sizes) Multiple aspects to both south and north. A grand open fireplace in the western gable wall is in use, with a second grand stone fireplace in the northern wall (disused.) At the Eastern end there are doors through to the Reception Room; the secret stair from the Ground Floor store room and solid wooden doors lead to the external South Terrace. A further door at the west end of the Great Hall leads to a fire escape. (This escape may not be required for a residential use) Reception Room (E) 8.08m x 5.27m Also accessible direct from the turnpike staircase and has 2 East facing windows and a Grand stone fireplace (disused). Queen Mary s Room. (S + W) 5.22m x 3.84m Accessed from the Reception Room and named because it is believed to have been Mary Queen of Scot s Bedroom when she visited the Castle during her short reign in the 1560 s. This is a fully panelled room of character with windows to the South and West. Open marble fireplace flanked on either side with ionic carved columns and moulded ceiling decorations. Two secret doors in the south wall lead to hidden store rooms. The turnpike stair continues up to the: SECOND FLOOR Opening onto a landing that in turn provides access to 3 Offices and 2nd Great Hall. Office 1 (E) 4.32m x 3.64m Vaulted recess and stone fireplace (disused). Office 2 (E) 4.37m x 3.91m Stone fireplace (disused.) Office 3 (E + S +W) 5.59m x 4.25m Stone fireplace (disused.) 2nd Great Hall / Open Plan Office 4 (S +N +W) 15.59m x 6.63m 5 south facing windows, 2 north facing windows and single window in the western gable. THIRD FLOOR From the main turnpike stairs a secondary turnpike staircase rises to the Third Floor. This opens onto another landing providing access to further Offices and a 3rd Great Hall. Accessed directly from the turnpike staircase: Office 5 (W + N) 3.20m x 3.11m Stone fireplace (disused,) shelved recess and ceiling moulding depicting a mermaid, dolphin, lion and the fleur de lys. Accessed from the landing: Office 6 (E) 4.29m x 3.13m L-shaped. Accessed from the landing with double aspect to east and stone fireplace (disused.) Office 7 (E) 5.89m x 4.95m (max sizes) Stone fireplace (disused). Door to: Office 8 (S+E+W) 6.48m x 5.35m Connecting door to 3rd Great Hall. 3rd Great Hall / Open Plan Office 9 ( S+ N + W) 15.94m x 6.63m With stone fireplace(disused,) 5 south facing windows, 4 north facing windows and single window in the western gable wall. The turnpike staircase continues up to the Fourth Floor. FOURTH FLOOR Office 10 7.4m x 3.54m Accessed direct from the stair is an open office with 3 skylights, walk in storage cupboard off and doors through to: Upper Corridor with doors to: Stores, WC s, Shower Room, and door to the fire escape. Penthouse Office 11. (S) 4.97m x 3.11m A bright contemporary office accessed from Office 10, with glazed wall at the southern gable giving open views over Burntisland Harbour and access to the parapet and battlements. OUTSIDE To the front of the castle is a hardcore parking area leading round to a gravelled terrace at the rear overlooking Burntisland Harbour. To the west side of the Castle is an area of rough ground, previously home to a large building; and to the east part of the adjoining park is owned as shown on the sale plan. Below the Castle close to the Harbour lies the roofless former dwelling known as The Sugar House.
CURRENT ELEVATION PLANS HIGHLIGHTING PROPOSED NEW GARAGE BLOCK
EXISTING LAYOUT
FLOOR PLANS HIGHLIGHTING POSSIBLE RESIDENTIAL LAYOUT ROSSEND CASTLE BURNTISLAND FIRST AND MAIN FLOOR PLAN 1.100 THIRD FLOOR PLAN 1.100 GROUND FLOOR AND ENTRANCE PLAN 1.100 SECOND FLOOR PLAN 1.100
GENERAL REMARKS AND INFORMATION Viewing Arrangements Viewing is strictly by appointment with the Sole Selling Agents. Directions From the Forth Road Bridge head eastwards signposted to Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay. Continue on to Burntisland and follow the signs towards the town centre and thereafter Rossend Castle is signposted. Satellite Navigation For the benefit of those with satellite navigation the property s postcode is KY3 0DT. Planning and Change of Use Planning Consent for Change of use of offices (Class 2) to form dwelling house and erection of triple garage (Ref: 11/05829/FLL) was granted in 2011. This consent has been re-applied for Ref: 18/02042/FLL. Listed Building Consent for internal alterations and erection of garage has also been re-applied for - Ref: 18/02045/LBC. Previously granted in 2012. Further information available at www.fifedirect.org.uk. Home Report There is no home report as the property is currently offices. EPC Band F Fixtures and Fittings Only items specifically mentioned in the particulars of sale are included in the sale price. Local Authority Fife Council, Fife House, North Street, Glenrothes, Fife KY7 5LT Tel: 08451 550 000 Burdens The property is presented rated due to its office use. The rateable value is 26,600 effective from 1st April 2017. Residential use will lead to an assessment for Council Tax purposes. Environmental Stipulations Rossend Castle alongwith boundary walls and railings is listed Category B. Entry and Possession By mutual arrangement. Services Mains water, electricity and drainage. connection subject to BT Regulations. Telephone Solicitors Davidson Chalmers, 12-16 Hope Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4DB Tel: 0131 625 9191 Offers Offers should be submitted in Scottish Legal Form to the selling agents Rettie & Co at 1 India Street, Edinburgh, EH3 6DH. A closing date by which offers must be submitted may be fixed later. Please note that interested parties are advised to register their interest with the selling agents in order that they may be advised should a closing date be set. The seller reserves the right to accept any offer at any time. Internet Websites This property and other properties offered by Rettie & Co can be viewed on our website at www.rettie.co.uk as well as our affiliated websites at www.rightmove.co.uk, www. onthemarket.com and www.thelondonoffice.co.uk. Servitude Rights, Burdens & Wayleaves The property is sold subject to and with the benefit of all servitude rights, burdens, reservations and wayleaves including rights of access and rights of way, whether public or private, light, support, drainage, water and wayleaves for masts, pylons, stays, cable, drains and water, gas and other pipes whether contained in the title deeds or informally constituted and whether or not referred to above. Particulars and Plans These particulars and plan are believed to be correct but they are in no way guaranteed. Any error, omission or mis-statement shall not annul the sale or entitle any party to compensation nor in any circumstances give grounds for action at law. Misrepresentations 1. The property is sold with all faults and defects, whether of condition or otherwise and neither the seller nor Rettie & Co, the selling agent, are responsible for such faults and defects, nor for any statement contained in the particulars of the property prepared by the said agent. 2. The Purchaser(s) shall be deemed to acknowledge that he has not entered into contact in reliance on the said statements, that he has satisfied himself as to the content of each of the said statements by inspection or otherwise and that no warranty or representation has been made by the seller or the said agents in relation to or in connection with the property. 3. Any error, omission or mis-statement in any of the said statements shall not entitle the purchaser(s) to rescind or to be discharged from this contract, nor entitle either party to compensation or damages nor in any circumstances to give either party any cause for action. Public Footpath The Sailor s Steps adjacent to the western end of the Rossend Castle boundary are a public footpath.
Important Notice Rettie & Co, their clients and any joint agents give notice that: 1. They are not authorised to make or give any representations or warranties in relation to the property either in writing or by word of mouth. Any information given is entirely without responsibility on the part of the agents or the sellers. These particulars do not form part of any offer or contract and must not be relied upon as statements or representations of fact. 2. Any areas, measurements or distances are approximate. The text, photographs and plans are for guidance only and are not necessarily comprehensive and it should not be assumed that the property remains as photographed. Any error, omission or mis-statement shall not annul the sale, or entitle any party to compensation or recourse to action at law. It should not be assumed that the property has all necessary planning, building regulation or other consents, including for its current use. Rettie & Co. have not tested any services, equipment or facilities. Purchasers must satisfy themselves by inspection or otherwise and ought to seek their own professional advice. 3. All descriptions or references to condition are given in good faith only. Whilst every endeavour is made to ensure accuracy, please check with us on any points of especial importance to you, especially if intending to travel some distance. No responsibility can be accepted for expenses incurred in inspecting properties which have been sold or withdrawn. Photographs: Please note that some of the photographs were taken in 2011.
11 Wemyss Place, Edinburgh, EH3 6DH 0131 220 4160 mail@rettie.co.uk www.rettie.co.uk Edinburgh Glasgow Melrose Berwick Upon Tweed Newcastle Upon TYne London