Kelly Castle, Arbirlot, Arbroath, Angus

The title, Baron of Kelly in Angus, is available by separate negotiation. Further details are available on request.

Kelly Castle is a hugely impressive Scottish Fortified Tower House. Grade “B” listed by Historic Environment Scotland, the listing notes on their website describe the castle as a “four-storey towerhouse L-plan, single-storey ranges enclosing small entrance court. Rubble and slate. Mainly 16th and 17th century, restored about 1870.” Major renovations and modifications by the current owners were completed in 2009.

As currently configured, the castle has 5 double bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, as well as a 2 bedroomed Estate Manager’s flat with kitchen, bathroom and a private entrance and a separate self-contained staff flat with bedroom, living room, kitchenette/diner and shower room. As you would expect, the rooms are resplendent and retain many original features such as decorative plasterwork, with some of the rooms enjoying views over the walled gardens and out to the North Sea in the distance.

There are numerous public rooms, which include a basement bar, snooker room and cinema room. Its position and layout will suit a variety of buyers, particularly as a large family home and those with an interest in golf.

The owners constructed a private nine hole golf course, and the castle is within close proximity of both Carnoustie golf course which has hosted The Open, and the home of golf at St Andrews.

Archives suggest that Philip de Moubray, a Norman settler, obtained lands in Angus from William the Lion, King of Scotland. He was an important noble in Scotland as he witnessed many of the king’s charters and was often employed in State affairs. It is probable that he was the first builder of a tower or castle on the south bank of the Elliot water, although the current tower was most probably built in the fifteenth century.

Records show that in 1208 the Abbot and Convent of Arbroath granted to Philip de Moubray liberty to have an Oratory or Chapel for his private family within the court of his house of “Kellyn”. The Moubrays forfeited the property in the reign of Robert the Bruce and it was given to the Stewart family who owned it until 1402 when it was acquired by the Ochterlony family. In 1641 the property was sold to the Irvine family who extended the property by adding the courtyard and wings.

In 1697 the property passed to the Maule Earls of Panmure. The property was forfeited by the Maule family after the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715 and was purchased by the Ramsay Earls of Dalhousie. The property was abandoned for around 100 years and local legend suggests the Great Hall (currently the Dining Room) was used to store contraband from the Continent. Lord Dalhousie granted a repairing lease to John Shiell who restored the building around 1864. There were minor additions at the beginning of the twentieth century.

The current owners purchased the castle in 2001 and have been magnificent custodians of it, undertaking a sympathetic renovation and making significant improvements and modifications, with no expense spared.

Located in approximately 33 acres of mature gardens and woodlands, which includes a private 9-hole golf course and the Elliot Water, formal gardens and walled garden.

The Castle overlooks the coastal farmlands of South Angus surrounded by farmland and is close to the town of Arbroath.

Kelly Castle lies approximately half a mile to the south-east of the village of Arbirlot, which comprises a small grouping of houses, a church and village hall along with a primary school located outwith the village.

Nearest town services are available in Arbroath, approximately 3 miles to the north-east. A dual carriageway, approximately half a mile to the south of Kelly Castle, links to Dundee city centre, approximately 16 miles to the south-west. The nearest railway station is in Arbroath, on the main east coast line, with regular services to Aberdeen to the north and Edinburgh to the south. The nearest air connection is at Dundee Riverside Airport which provides a number of scheduled domestic flights and private landing facilities and Edinburgh International Airport is approximately 76 miles away.

What3words: could.winter.husky
Postcode DD11 2PB

General Information
Services: Mains electricity and water, private drainage to septic tank, underfloor heating to almost all areas of the property supplemented by radiators.

Estate Manager’s flat operated from the same system with separate control; Category 5 wiring, full burglar and fire alarm systems, LPG gas cooker. Satellite television hard wiring throughout.

Tenure: Freehold
Local Authority: Angus Council
Council Tax: Main Castle Band H
Estate Manager’s flat Band C
Fixtures and Fittings: Available by separate negotiation are certain items of furniture. Further details are available on request.
EPC: Band D

A small number of adjacent properties have a right of access over the Castle driveway. Further information can be provided upon request.

The sale is subject to all existing formal and informal servitudes, rights of way, burdens, wayleaves, conditions and others whether contained in the title deeds and these particulars or not.