Scottish castle Cassillis House is put on the market for 3.9m

September 2024 · 4 minute read

An Australian entrepreneur has been forced to slash the asking price of her Scottish castle for £2.6 million (A$4.8m) less than it cost her to buy and refurbish.

Kate Armstrong, the founder of price comparison website Confused.com, bought Cassillis House in 2009 for £3 million (A$5.6m), before spending millions of pounds giving the neglected property a 21st-century makeover.

The 112 room property, which is set in 300 acres of the Ayrshire countryside, was in a state of disrepair when Mrs Armstrong bought it and she spent four years and £3.5 million (A$6.5m) renovating it.

Now, Mrs Armstrong has been forced to slash the price of the Scottish castle to £3.9 million (A$7m), which is £2.6 million (A$4.8m) less than what it cost to buy and renovate it.

Cassillis House, a 112 room property set in 300 acres of the Ayrshire countryside in Scotland, is now being sold for £2.6 million less than it cost Australian entrepreneur Kate Armstrong to buy and refurbish

Cassillis House, a 112 room property set in 300 acres of the Ayrshire countryside in Scotland, is now being sold for £2.6 million less than it cost Australian entrepreneur Kate Armstrong to buy and refurbish

Kate Armstrong, the Australian founder of price comparison website Confused.com, bought the Scottish castle in 2009 for £3 million and first put it on the market in 2014 for £5 million

Kate Armstrong, the Australian founder of price comparison website Confused.com, bought the Scottish castle in 2009 for £3 million and first put it on the market in 2014 for £5 million

The castle, which is being sold by estate agents Savills, was originally put on sale for £5 million in 2014.

The asking price made it one of the most expensive properties in Scotland.

Now a further £1.1 million has been knocked off the asking price in a bid to find a house hunter to take it off her hands.

Cassillis House boasts 13 bedrooms, seven of which have luxurious en-suites, a ballroom, library, wine cellar, cinema room, and space for a gym.

Four other properties are included on the estate including a five-bed coach house.

The mammoth four-year restoration project saw many historical features retained including a 15th century staircase and a two-storey front dating between 1830 and 1832

Kate Armstrong's (right) mammoth four-year restoration project saw many historical features retained including a 15th century staircase and a two-storey front dating between 1830 and 1832

Rich red curtains and carpets add warmth to this grand room, which features painted exposed beams on the ceiling. It is one of 112 rooms on the property, which took Mrs Armstrong four years to restore

Rich red curtains and carpets add warmth to this grand room, which features painted exposed beams on the ceiling. It is one of 112 rooms on the property, which took Mrs Armstrong four years to restore

Mrs Armstrong spent millions of pounds giving the neglected property a 21st-century makeover, including the kitchen which features wooden cabinets and modern lighting fixtures

Mrs Armstrong spent millions of pounds giving the neglected property a 21st-century makeover, including the kitchen which features wooden cabinets and modern lighting fixtures

The castle has 13 bedrooms, seven of which are luxurious en-suites. This bathroom features a free-standing roll-top bath and modern shower

The castle has 13 bedrooms, seven of which are luxurious en-suites. This bathroom features a free-standing roll-top bath and modern shower

Mrs Armstrong has been forced to slash the price of the Scottish castle to £3.9 million, which is £2.6 million less than what it cost to buy and renovate it

Mrs Armstrong has been forced to slash the price of the Scottish castle to £3.9 million, which is £2.6 million less than what it cost to buy and renovate it

The castle, which was built between 1404 and 1454, had been neglected for many years before Mrs Armstrong bought it, and had problems including rot to the roofs and damage to ornate design work.

The mammoth four-year restoration project carried out by the Australian tycoon saw many historical features retained including a 15th century staircase and a two-storey front dating between 1830 and 1832.  

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Mrs Armstrong worked with Historic Scotland on it and had the castle painted yellow, which would have been the original colour.

The restoration project was featured on a BBC program Restoration Home in 2013. 

The castle was built between 1404 and 1454 and had been neglected for many years before Mrs Armstrong bought it

The castle was built between 1404 and 1454 and had been neglected for many years before Mrs Armstrong bought it

When the property hit the market in 2014, selling agent Evelyn Channing, of Savills, said Mrs Armstrong was concerned about making sure the buyer would look after the castle 

When the property hit the market in 2014, selling agent Evelyn Channing, of Savills, said Mrs Armstrong was concerned about making sure the buyer would look after the castle 

Mrs Armstrong worked with Historic Scotland on the restoration and it was featured on a BBC program Restoration Home in 2013

Mrs Armstrong worked with Historic Scotland on the restoration and it was featured on a BBC program Restoration Home in 2013

The 13-bedroom castle boasts a cinema room, complete with a tartan carpet, a ballroom, wine cellar - and has space for a gym

The 13-bedroom castle boasts a cinema room, complete with a tartan carpet, a ballroom, wine cellar - and has space for a gym

Four other properties are also included on the sprawling estate including a five-bed coach house

Four other properties are also included on the sprawling estate including a five-bed coach house

The property boasts 13 bedrooms, seven of which have luxurious en-suites, a ballroom, library, wine cellar and cinema room

The property boasts 13 bedrooms, seven of which have luxurious en-suites, a ballroom, library, wine cellar and cinema room

 

 

 

 

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