Peeblesshire News | News | £3,illion for local estate

Saturday, 11th October, 2008

Published: Friday, 2nd June, 2006 12:00

£3,illion for local estate

By David Knox

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HALF of Innerleithen’s most famous hill is up for sale.

But it will cost you £3 million – and a rose.

Lee Pen’s west slopes have come on the market along with the rest of the historic Glenormiston Estate.

The historic 767-acre estate dates back more than 500 years.

And a romantic tradition dating back almost as far states that the crown can demand a token rental payment of three red roses.

Although the prickly payment was reduced to a single rose when the papers of sale were drawn up in 19th Century, the tradition has continued.

Anna Thomas from agents, Savills, explained: “When King George V and Queen Mary visited the Borders in July 1923, the then owner personally delivered to the King, at his request, one red rose.

“In 1966, during a royal visit to the Borders, Queeen Elizabeth II’s entourage paused at the gates of Glenormiston, where she was presented with her rose.”

The original mansion house at the centre of the estate was demolished in the 1950s, and its name, Glenormiston House, was passed to the nearby six-bedroom farmhouse.

Included in the asking price are eight houses and cottages and several farm buildings.

And the estate also boasts its very own runway, stretching from Caerlee Haugh up to Howford Crossing on the Tweed.

Its current owners have been at Glenormiston since 1980, and the selling agents believe the sporting estate will be snapped up quickly.

Anna Thomas added: “The enthusiast can enjoy absolutely top class, spectacular pheasant shooting – the envy of many other Borders estates.

“Right on the doorstep, the estate has some 3.5 miles of salmon fishing on the Tweed, with an average catch of 60 fish.”

Glenormiston Estate was bought by publisher William Chambers in 1849 for £25,500, and owned the lands between Innerleithen and Peebles until his death in 1883.

Glenormiston is for sale as a whole lot, with a guide price of offers over £3 million.

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