Monreith House and Estate, Port William, Newton Stewart, Dumfries and Galloway, DG8

A historic Georgian mansion house nestled in mature policy grounds on the banks of the White Loch of Myrton

Description

Historical Note - The Maxwell Family

The Maxwell family is a historically significant Scottish lineage, with origins dating back to the 12th century. The family held various estates and titles, including the barony of Caerlaverock. Members of the Monreith branch have been involved in political, military and literary spheres. Notable individuals include Sir Herbert Maxwell, a Member of Parliament and author, and Gavin Maxwell, a naturalist and writer known for Ring of Bright Water. Monreith House and Estate reflect the architectural, horticultural and familial history of the region and remain associated with the Maxwell family’s legacy.

Monreith House and Estate

Monreith Estate extends to approximately 132.93 hectares (328.47 acres) with Monreith House and the White Loch of Myrton at its heart. The surrounding (and off-lying) woodlands provide amenity, shelter and privacy for the mansion house, as well as a source of income and firewood.

Monreith House is a Georgian mansion listed as Category A for its architectural and historical importance. It was commissioned in 1791 by Sir William Maxwell, 4th Baronet, and designed by Alexander Stevens, replacing the earlier Myrton Castle, parts of which were reused in the construction.

The house is a three-storey classical structure with a part-sunk basement and a five-bay rectangular plan. The garden elevation features a full-height bowed bay, and in 1821, a Greek Doric porch was added by Sir Robert Smirke, incorporating paired fluted columns and a tripartite doorway with a six-pane fanlight. A single-storey wing was added in 1878, and the house is accompanied by an 18th century office court and courtyard walls.

The interior includes 19th century decorative features, such as gilded friezes, plasterwork and tapestries. In the entrance hall, 18th century floral appliqué work – believed to have originally served as carpeting in Myrton Castle – was repurposed by Lady Magdalene Maxwell.

The surrounding gardens are included in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland, with high ratings in multiple categories. The layout and planting were influenced by Sir Herbert Maxwell, who introduced a variety of plant species during his tenure.

Monreith House

Monreith House is accessed via a private (shared) access from the public road to the northeast. This follows the wooded east bank of the White Loch of Myrton and passes by Monreith Mains (in separate ownership) before reaching the entrance to the house and garden grounds where it also forks away towards the southern end of the estate. A useful network of internal tracks link the main property to the cottages, woodlands and loch, as well as connecting to the public road south of the estate.

The access track arrives at a gravelled parking area by the main entrance porch, which leads into a light and airy reception hallway where there is a seating area and wood burning stove, and from which the ground floor accommodation is accessed. A striking staircase curves upwards to the first floor gallery landing.

Presented over four floors, the accommodation is as shown on the accompanying floorplans. The principal reception rooms on the ground floor are southwest facing benefitting from sunlight throughout the majority of the day. The dining room in particular is dual aspect with vast windows flooding the room with natural light, and whilst the fireplace forms a centrepiece for the room, it is complemented by some detailed cornicing and a central chandelier. There are adjoining doors with the morning room (northeast facing) which itself features some remarkable tapestried wallpaper and a further fireplace. The bow fronted library is adorned with integrated book shelves, a central fireplace and French doors accessing the garden. The billiards room provides further bookshelving including bespoke cabinets either side of the fireplace which are engraved. The dining kitchen has views towards the loch and some basic units, however there is also a small catering kitchen with a dumb waiter along the hall. A bedroom, shower room and WC completes the ground floor.

The first floor (main landing) features an en suite bedroom and further bedroom and bathroom. From the main landing there is also access to the Laird’s Flat, a self contained apartment with a principal bedroom suite including en suite bathroom and dressing room, a sitting room, pantry and second en suite bedroom.

The second floor is arranged as three apartments (1 x 1 bedroom and 2 x 2 bedrooms, each with bathrooms, kitchen or kitchenette and living areas). The wiring in this part of the house has been disconnected.

The basement is similarly split into two apartments (1 x 2 bedroom and 1 x 3 bedrooms) but with further ancillary cellars and stores, a laundry, games room and workshop in addition.

The gardens feature vast areas of lawn with a circular terraced wall to the rear of the house. The surrounding policy woodlands provide an abundance of colour in the spring, when the rhododendrons are in bloom. The White Loch of Myrton is the jewel in the crown of the estate, extending to some 20.59 hectares (50.87 acres) with a boat house located centrally on the western bank and a small crannog towards the southeast of the loch. Pike fishing is available on the Loch.

Estate Cottages

There are four cottages within the grounds of the estate. 1 and 2 The Barracks are small flats located above garages attached to the western elevation of Monreith House forming a courtyard. Both are let out to tenants and have two and one bedrooms respectively. South Lodge is located at the southwestern point of the policy grounds adjoining the public road and is also let to a tenant. Finally, Kennels Cottage is located on the north edge of the White Loch of Myrton. Recently renovated and extended, this property is available with vacant possession and forms a separate lot, as described further below.

Woodlands

The Estate woodlands frame the house and loch, as well as some off lying compartments. The mix of species includes substantial stands of beech, oak, ash, sycamore and in places silver birch. Until recent years there was an active pheasant shoot over the estate.

Kirkmaiden Church and Yard

A small private church and burial ground is situated on the cliffside adjacent to St Medan’s Golf Club at Monreith, and also historically forms part of the Estate. Kirkmaiden Church is a Scheduled Ancient Monument. The rubble walled churchyard adjoining is also Category B Listed. There is open public access to the churchyard, which is situated on a popular walk near to Maxwell’s Otter (a life size bronze otter statue overlooking the shore as a memorial to Gavin Maxwell). The kirkyard is also close to the golf club and two local beaches.

Lot 2 - Kennels Cottage

Situated on the banks of the White Loch of Myrton, Kennels Cottage has been recently renovated and extended to comprise a four bedroom property with open plan dining kitchen/family room and separate sitting room with dual aspect patio doors maximising the views and natural light.

On the ground floor there is a bedroom with en suite shower room which can also be separately accessed from the entrance hall. The open plan dining kitchen has ample space for an additional seating area, but also has an open passage to the sitting room. A double sided wood burning stove serves both the family room and the sitting room.

Upstairs there are three further bedrooms and a family bathroom with three piece suite and separate shower. Externally there is a group of former outbuildings which are included with the cottage but are in poor condition.

Location

Dumfries and Galloway is the most southerly region in Scotland, providing the gateway to both England and Northern Ireland. The region incorporates the traditional counties of Wigtownshire, Kirkcudbrightshire and Dumfriesshire, the former two being collectively known as Galloway. It has a rich history in agriculture and forestry, covering a magnificent landscape stretching from the western and southern coastlines to the southern upland ranges of hills including the Merrick and Cairnsmore of Fleet and incorporating the Galloway Forest Park.

Monreith Estate is located near to Port William, a small coastal village on the eastern shore of Luce Bay with a range of local services including a general store and post office, primary school, garage, bowling green, multi-use games area, doctor’s surgery and a café. Wigtown, Scotland’s National Book Town, is about 10 miles from the property and boasts more than a dozen bookshops along with an annual book festival taking place every autumn.

Newton Stewart is the largest town in the area, located about 18 miles to the north by road, where there is secondary schooling, leisure and sports facilities and a wider range of business services, supermarkets and shops. The town also serves as the gateway to the Galloway Forest Park which covers a vast and sparsely populated landscape stretching to the north and east and is one of only a handful of parks in the western world to have official Dark Sky status. There is a visitor centre at Kirroughtree where one of the world class 7stanes mountain bike destinations is located, featuring a variety of green, blue and red graded trails for mountain biking or walking.

Wigtownshire is a genuinely rural area of Scotland, well known for dairy and livestock farming with rolling landscapes, extensive woodlands and an unspoilt coastline. Country sports in the area include fishing on the nearby rivers Bladnoch and Cree, as well as pheasant and partridge shooting on surrounding estates. The country roads are popular with walkers and cyclists, and there are local golf courses at Monreith (2 miles), Wigtown and Newton Stewart. Cairnsmore of Carsphairn and the Merrick provide two challenging climbs for hiking enthusiasts whilst the Southern Upland Way runs 214 miles from Portpatrick on the west coast to Cockburnspath on the east coast of Scotland. The coastline offers excellent sailing and sea fishing, with safe anchorages at Port William, Garlieston and the Isle of Whithorn.

The nearest railway stations are in Stranraer (25 miles), Barrhill (35 miles) and Dumfries (63 miles). The A75 can be accessed at Newton Stewart, linking to the M74 (about 84 miles) to the east. The nearest international airports are at Prestwick (about 68 miles) and Glasgow (about 99 miles). Cairnryan lies about 29 miles to the west and is the main ferry terminal for Northern Ireland with services to both Larne and Belfast.




Acreage: 328.47 Acres

Directions

Monreith Estate is located in southwest Scotland, and can be accessed easily from the north and east. From Glasgow, head south on the M77 towards Kilmarnock/Ayr, thereafter continuing along the A77 to Girvan. Just south of Girvan, take the exit for the A714 (Newton Stewart). On reaching Newton Stewart, follow the A714 south towards Wigtown. After approximately 5 miles turn right on to the B7085 (signposted Whithorn) and after a further 3 miles turn right on to the B7085. Continue for around 6.5 miles, before turning left (on a hairpin bend), then take the next right at North Lodge onto the Monrieth Estate drive. Follow the drive to the fork in the road where there is a sign indicating Monreith House to the left. The postcode is DG8 9LB. What3words: depending.emails.fiery

Additional Info

Viewing - strictly by appointment with Savills on .

Entry and Possession - by arrangement.

Offers - Offers in Scottish Legal Form are to be submitted to the selling agents. A closing date for offers may be fixed, and prospective purchasers are advised to register their interest with the selling agents following inspection.

Solicitors - A B and A Matthews, 37 Albert Street, Newton Stewart, DG8 6EG - T: .

Contents - The contents of Monreith House have been separately valued and may be available to the purchaser by separate negotiation.

Local Authority - Dumfries & Galloway Council ( Council HQ, English Street, Dumfries, DG1 2DD - T: .

Sporting Rights - The sporting and fishing rights are in hand.

Servitude Rights, Burdens, Wayleaves And Statutory Public And Other Access Rights - The property is sold subject to and with the benefit of all existing servitude and wayleave rights, including rights of access and rights of way, whether public or private. The property is also sold subject to the rights of public access under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003. The purchaser(s) will be held to have satisfied themselves as to the nature of all such servitude rights and others following their solicitors’ examination of the title deeds.

The full extent of the main driveway is not owned, but there are rights of access reserved in favour of Monreith House.

The parts of the driveway which are owned, are subject to third party rights of access.

Core path PORP/388/2 (White Loch of Myrton) follows the south avenue past South Lodge to a small car parking area near the southern bank of the loch. The route circles the loch passing through woodland behind Kennels Cottage and returns to the carpark via the main Monrieth Estate drive (please note the path does not pass through the immediate grounds of Monreith House).

Monreith House and Estate are designated 'outstanding' in the Inventory of Garden and Designed Landscapes.

Historical & Environmental Designations - Monreith House with office courtyard, gate piers and terrace wall are Category A Listed. An ice house within the woodlands and the churchyard at Kirkmaiden are Category B Listed. The west gate piers are Category C Listed.

Mineral Rights & Timber - In so far as they are owned, the mineral rights are included in the sale. All standing and fallen timber will be included within the sale.

Employees - There is one employee currently employed by the estate whose employment will fall to be transferred to the purchaser of Monreith House and Estate under the TUPE regulations 2006. Further details can be obtained from the Selling Agents.

Purchase Price - On conclusion of missives a non-returnable deposit of 10% of the purchase price shall be paid. The balance of the purchase price will fall due for payment at the date of entry (whether entry is taken or not) with interest accruing thereon at the rate of 5% above Bank of Scotland base rate. No consignation shall be effectual in avoiding such interest.

Disputes - Should any discrepancy arise as to the boundaries or any points arise on the Remarks, Stipulations or Plan or the interpretation of any of them, the question shall be referred to the arbitration of the selling agents whose decision acting as experts, shall be final.

Plans, Areas and Schedules - These are based on the Ordnance Survey and are for reference only. They have been carefully checked and computed by the selling agents and the purchaser shall be deemed to have satisfied himself as to the description of the property and any error or mis-statement shall not annul the sale nor entitle either party to compensation in respect thereof.

Overseas Purchasers - Any offer by a purchaser(s) who is resident outwith the United Kingdom must be accompanied by a guarantee from a bank which is acceptable to the sellers.

Lotting - It is intended to offer the property for sale as described, but the seller reserves the right to divide the property into further lots, or to withdraw the property, or to exclude any property shown in these particulars.

Generally - Should there be any discrepancy between these particulars, the General Remarks and Information, Stipulations and the Missives of Sale, the latter shall prevail.

Apportionments - The Council Tax and all other outgoings shall be apportioned between the seller and the purchaser(s) as at the date of entry.