A castle on the west coast of Scotland which has been at the centre of a 25-year battle over a £230 debt has gone on the market for more than £1.25 million.
Knockderry Castle is widely regarded as one of the finest examples of Victorian mansion architecture in Scotland.
Its previous owner Marian van Overwaele, 72, was made bankrupt after repeatedly refusing to pay a bill relating to a bridalwear business she ran in 1997.
READ MORE: 85,000 Glasgow residents to get free gift card worth £105 from council - here's how it works
After her repeated refusals to pay up, the debt rose to £30,000 and a bankruptcy trustee was appointed to take control over her assets.
Over the last two decades the pensioner fought various attempts to have her removed from the castle in Cove, Dunbartonshire, so it could be sold to pay off her creditors.
Mrs van Overwaele transferred ownership of the castle into her brother George Amil's name after she was made bankrupt in 2000 over the unpaid factor fee bill and continued to live there with him and his family.
However, they were evicted from the property in March by sheriff officers after exhausting all legal avenues.
Knockderry was put up for sale earlier this week for offers over £1.25 million. It is being jointly marketed by estate agents Strutt and Parker and Shepherd Surveyors.
Designed by Alexander 'Greek' Thomson in the 1850s, the A-listed castle stands above Loch Long in the village of Cove.
It boasts six bedrooms, four reception rooms and original features including crow step gables, turrets, stone balustrades.
However, potential buyers have been warned that the property does require "extensive upgrading and refurbishment."
A sales brochure for the property reads: "The property is an A-listed Baronial castle built-in the mid-19th century for James Templeton, a textile manufacturer and designed by the renowned architect, Alexander 'Greek' Thomson, with later alterations and additions by John Honeyman and William Leiper.
"Knockderry Castle is Category A-listed largely on account of the exceptional Leiperian interior which is considered one of the finest domestic interiors of its style in Scotland.
"The property benefits from a wealth of original features including crow step gables, turrets, stone balustrades and an extraordinary wood panelled drawing room which includes a minstrel gallery and other features including period fireplaces, panelling and stained glass windows.
"Internally, the main property incorporates an entrance hall, four reception rooms, multiple bedrooms and bathrooms and extensive ancillary accommodation throughout."
Last July, judges at the Court Of Session upheld an earlier decision to allow the bankruptcy trustee, George Lafferty, to evict the family and take control of the castle.
The law lords ruled against Mrs van Overwaele and her brother because the pair failed to attend court without proper excuse. They had claimed they were unwell, but this was not accepted by the court.
Following a further hearing at the Court of Session, Mrs van Overwaele was denied permission to appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court in London.
Speaking previously about the case, she said: "The original bill had nothing to do with me in the first place.
"This house now belongs to my brother and my family have spent hundreds of thousands of pounds lovingly restoring it.
"This is my home but I am very worried that the house will be taken.
"I am 45 years in Scotland now, my life is here. It has affected me very badly and I don't want to cry - I have cried enough.
"Sometimes I wake during the night and pray, 'Please let this be a dream, or a nightmare and not a true story'."
READ NEXT:
Glasgow could see crackdown on Airbnb-style lets as new licence rules edge closer
Stunning million-pound property up for sale in south side of Glasgow
We applied to Location, Location, Location and this is what they ask you
Farm for sale near Glasgow offers 'wonderful lifestyle opportunity'
'Eccentric' Glasgow homes wanted for new show with Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen
