Archive for September, 2010

Lady Gaga wants her own castle

Superstar singer Lady Gaga wants to buy a castle – and no expense will be spared in her quest for her perfect abode. The publicity-shy singer is said to have fallen in love with the British landscape and wants to purchase an estate in the countryside.
A source told Scottish newspaper the Daily Record:
‘It is her childhood dream and she’s particularly interested in castles in the north of England or Scotland

Isle of Craro for sale

This enchanting 8-acre private island is located just off the South West coast of the Isle of Gigha, Inner Hebrides. The surrounding waters are home to seals and much bird life, with dolphins passing by regularly. The island is virtually untouched by people, yet important part of local folklore.Isle of Craro for sale

Monaco property sells for £199 million

The FT reports that a flat in Monaco owned by British property entrepreneur Christian Candy has been sold for €240m (£199m) in one of the most expensive residential property sales. La Belle Epoque, a property occupied by Christian and his brother Nick Candy, has been bought by an unnamed Middle Eastern investor.

The sale of the home, which dates back to the interwar years of swinging Monte Carlo, underlines the recovery in the fortunes of the super-rich, which has helped boost prices for luxury homes.

The apartment comprises the top two floors of the building and was the home of Edmond Safra, the financier and philanthropist. He died in a fire at the property in 1999.

Ruperra Castle for sale

Ruperra Castle for sale, The design for Ruperra Castle was clearly based on that for Lulworth Castle, just 100 miles away in Dorset, and built between 1603-05. Always called a ‘castle’ but built with the instruction from Lord Howard of Bindon that it ‘prove pretty’, it was never military. Indeed, Thomas Gerard writing in 1630 described it as ‘well seated for prospect and pleasure; but of little other use’. Bought by the Weld family from Lord Howard it remained their family seat until a devastating fire in 1929 completely gutted the interior – as it remains today, although the building itself has been restored. Another house thought to have been built around 1612 is Compton Bassett House in Wiltshire (dem. c1929) which clearly shared a similar layout although the corner turrents were square.

Andrew Lloyd Webber wants to buy Highclere Castle

Andrew Lloyd Webber has said he would be interested in buying Highclere Castle to house his art collection.
Lord Lloyd Webber has approached planning chiefs with an offer for the landmark on the Hampshire-Berkshire border.
Owners Earl and Countess of Carnarvon are applying for permission to build up to 15 houses on the site, near Newbury.
They want to fund urgent repairs to the castle

The Pezula Private Castle on Noetzie Beach in Knysna is for sale

The Pezula Private Castle on Noetzie Beach in Knysna is for sale. The property features 3 castles on the beach . This luxury private beach residence was voted best property in the world at the CNBC International Property Awards in Orlando in 2008, and Noetzie Beach has been voted one of the three top beaches in South Africa.
Priced at R56m, this house is built into the cliff-face and offers direct beach access. The entire castle complex offers five spacious luxury suites in three separate castles, all with sumptuous bathrooms, vast living areas and private terraces overlooking the beach.

Carie Estate for sale

The Carie estate on the southern shore of Loch Rannoch, in the heart of Highland Perth-shire. Carie is the ancient seat of Clan Robertson of Struan, whose chiefs lived at Carie House and owned most of the land in these parts. After Culloden, the Robertsons refused to ‘clear’ their estates of their clansmen in favour of the more profitable sheep, an honourable but financially ruinous policy, which led to the eventual loss of the entire clan lands by the early 20th century.

National Trust in Scotland plans property sale

The National Trust for Scotland is to sell off some of its properties as part of a series of reforms to save it from collapse, after a damning review found the organisation had no central asset register of what it owns or any idea of repair costs.

The report concluded that the 79-year-old National Trust for Scotland (NTS), which owns many of the country’s most famous sites such as Culloden battlefield, Culzean Castle and the islands of St Kilda, is in a shambolic state, thanks in part to a bizarre management structure involving 87 trustees