An entrepreneurial mum bought a derelict 17th Century castle for £250,000 - and plans to rope her extended family into renovating it into a plush wedding venue. Mum-of-two Nicole Rudder, 32, bought the pad in November last year on a whim, without telling husband Grant, 37 - despite repairs costing an estimated £5 million.
Her husband Grant, who works as a painter and decorator, calls his wife 'Mrs Project' and grudgingly congratulated her although she thinks he may not be best pleased. The baronial castle, Garrion Tower, in Garrion Bridge, North Lanarkshire, was put on the market for £800,000 by an English firm last year, but with no interest lodged the price was axed to offers over £400,000.
Nicole, who says she is a massive believer in 'don't ask, don't get', offered £250,000, which was accepted. She plans to draw on the DIY skills of 17 family and friends who she works with at her insurance firm - and has already renovated AirBnBs which she owns - and fears the most arduous part will be tackling admin for the partly B-listed building.
