A Wishaw businesswoman has taken on the ultimate Grand Designs project, after buying an abandoned 15th century castle.
Nicole Rudder bought her dream project in secret – the dilapidated Garrion Tower – and is working on £5 million plans to transform it into a luxury wedding venue.
The 32-year-old was originally sent the advert for the sale of the tower as a joke by a friend but, after taking a drive to view the building, she fell in love with it and snapped it up.
She said: “I put the offer in without telling anyone and was shocked when I got the call to say it was mine.
“I had to go home and tell my husband I’d bought a castle and he wasn’t too pleased at first. People think I’m mad but I knew when I saw it I could make this place something special again.
“This is my dream and hearing my two young daughters talk about mummy buying a castle was a real moment for me. I want my daughters to grow up knowing that girls can do anything they want and everything is possible with hard work.”
Built in 1484, it was originally a summer home to the bishops of Glasgow and later used as part of a fruit and vegetable farm.
Set within the Clyde Valley, the 19-room B-listed building was boarded up in 2008 and then acquired by a London-based firm who planned to knock it down and use the land for a housing development.
In 2018 the castle had fallen into such disrepair it was added to Scotland’s Buildings at Risk Register. But after planning applications to tear down the castle - which includes 4.5 acres of surrounding ground - were rejected, it was put up for sale in 2020 for offers over £600,000.
With no interest from potential buyers, the price was reduced to offers over £450,000.
In November, Nicole, from Chapelhall, placed an offer for £250,000 and it was accepted in February. Nicole said: “It’s a beautiful building and I fell in love with it the minute I saw it.
“They just don’t make them like this any more. It has stood here empty and unloved for so long. My friend sent me the link as a joke and I laughed it off.
"But then I took a drive out to see it and the moment I saw it, I knew it was the one for me.”
Now Nicole, who owns non-fault car accident firm G4 Claims and clothing boutique and beauty salon Francesca’s Kloset in Wishaw, has begun work to restore the historic building to its former glory and is hoping to open the doors to welcome her first wedding guests in the summer of 2024.
After consulting with contractors, she estimates it will cost up to £5 million to renovate and restore the castle.
She is in the process of applying for restoration grants to help cover the costs but is keen to maintain as many original features as possible.
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