A historic Moray mansion which was destroyed by a ferocious blaze is poised to rise from the ashes under freshly lodged plans.
John and Steph Christie were heartbroken when a fire reduced B-listed Blackhills House, near Lhanbryde, to cinders and wiped out countless treasured possessions.
The blaze broke out at the 19th century venue in November 2015, destroying the entire roof and leaving the building a blackened husk.
But shortly after the smoke cleared, the determined Christie family vowed to restore Blackhills House to its former glory.
And now they have lodged a planning application with Moray Council, outlining their aims to have the building up and running again within years.
Ballindalloch architect Kenneth Lawson has overseen the Christies’s plans to rebuild the family home.
Mr Lawson’s design statement reveals, in detail, the damage the house suffered.
It states: “The fire destroyed the whole of the roof structure and all internal finishes on the first floor, including windows, shutters, staircases, doors and plasterwork.
“Damage to the ground floor was less severe, but the collapse of areas of the first floor and water damage has left nothing capable of being salvaged.
“The masonry shell has, however, survived in reasonably good condition.”
The application lists plans to transform two former bedrooms into self-catering accommodation, to help the owners generate income.
The document also reveals the fire is believed to have been sparked by a large log boiler, which was used to heat the house.
And following that “traumatic experience”, the refurbished manor will instead be heated with a wood chip boiler stored outside the building.
The Christie family managed to save old photographs of the house from the flames, and will use those as inspiration in repairing it.
The country house was built for the 4th Earl of Fife in 1838, but was purchased by Thomas North Christie in 1915 and has been in the family ever since.
The rural community rallied around the couple and their children following the fire.
Fochabers Lhanbryde councillor Douglas Ross said residents would take heart from the ongoing effort to revive the listed building.
Mr Ross added: “The submission of this planning application is another positive step forward to restore Blackhills House to its former glory.
“This house was built in the 1800s and has been in the Christie family for three generations, so I’m delighted that it’s restoration is progressing.”
Mr and Mrs Christie were unavailable for comment yesterday.
