For more than 30 years, Patricia Donaldson has been the “queen” of her very own castle.
The GP has watched her four children grow up in Ellon Castle but now she has decided to give someone else the chance to live the royal life – and become a crofter.
Now that the children have become independent, the house is too big and Patricia feels it needs another family to fill its seven bedrooms and four living rooms.
The mother of four said: “The fourth of my children is about to graduate from university and my lovely family home is no longer needed for one single lady.”
The mansion house is up for grabs for offers over £950,000. It lies just outside the village of Ellon and dates from 1724, with plenty of history surrounding it. At one time it was owned by the private physician to Queen Victoria, Sir James Reid.
The front has two solid double doors and a period marble floor with access to the west wing. Here you will find the sitting room which has an original oak fireplace with a cast iron wood burning stove, which is joint with the study.
French doors lead from the study on to the terraced gardens with views to the woodlands. The original fireplace is polished granite with a slate hearth and shares the stove with the sitting room.
Since putting in the stove, Patricia has noticed a decline in bills which makes a big difference when heating up such a large home.
“We have a lot of woodland attached to the property,” Patricia said.
“We provide our own wood as I have a wood splitter, so that’s actually really nice.
“I have seen my central heating bills go down since I put in my wood burning stove, which I think most people do. It’s a great thing.”
The utility and kitchen are also on this side of the house, which has a feature curved wall and looks out on to the courtyard at the back.
Patricia has renovated the castle during the past 30 years. The five bathrooms have been refurbished and the kitchen has been completely refitted. A false wooden wall at one end was removed to reveal an original pale sandstone fireplace.
“We installed an AGA 30 years ago when we moved in. It’s a gas fired AGA and that’s a nice cosy focal point,” she said.
“The original fireplace is exposed and the AGA is right in there. The kitchen is a nice lovely family place.”
The family gather in the kitchen when they are there, but a magnificent dining room provides a more formal setting for parties, with a butler’s pantry tucked away. Over the years the family has held plenty of events and has been a perfect place for the children to invite their friends to.
“It’s been a great family home for the children and having their friends around. It’s been a very hospitable place to have people to stay,” said Patricia.
“There’s been lots of opportunities for parties and 21sts.”
Another original stone fireplace is in the drawing room. The room is furnished with beautiful antique full-height bookshelves.
Patricia is moving to a smaller house in the Highlands and is happy for any potential buyers of the house to purchase some of the furniture that goes with it.
“Obviously they wouldn’t fit into a normal house, just because of the height of them,” Patricia said.
“When we moved we came from a normal four bedroom house, so we had to buy a lot of new things.
“If any interested person wanted to have some of the existing furniture then I would be very happy.”
Patricia is also having another change of lifestyle and is retiring from her position as a GP. She says that it is a time in her life for other things. One of her daughters is expecting, so she is excited to be a grandmother.
Two of her children live in Glasgow, another is in Northumberland and her son is a trainee accountant in London.
Patricia said: “They don’t want to move back to Aberdeenshire. They have their own career directions.
“I think they completely understand. They will be happy wherever I go.”
The new owners will have a luxury master bedroom which is within the circular tower. It has a walk-in wardrobe and an open plan en suite bathroom with a free-standing rolled-edge bath, complete with claw feet.
And as if that wasn’t impressive enough, a coach house also comes as part of the castle. It has two bedrooms, a lounge and a kitchen dining room, so it is a perfect place for any guests to stay when they visit.
Ellon Castle is only a 20 minute drive from Aberdeen. Patricia works in Peterhead and finds the location of the village great for commuting.
“My children all went to school in Aberdeen and it was quite easy to transport them,” said Patricia.
All of the rooms have impressive views over the three-and-a-half acres of grounds. There is a paved courtyard and patios as well as a private gravel driveway with listed gate piers at the east entrance.
“What I will miss the most is the garden and the lovely outdoor spaces,” said Patricia.
“Just the ability to be outside and the fact that the garden is a very private place.”
Contact Simpson & Marwick on 01224 622622.
