Scottish 'Dragon's Den' castle being brought back to life after 280 years

From left: James Brown, Angelo Ovidi and Nicholas Howie pose for a photo at Baltersan Castle.
-Credit: (Image: © SWNS)


A historic Scottish castle that has lay empty for almost three centuries is being brought back to life.

Baltersan Castle is a ruined L-plan tower house dating back to the 16th century, situated near Maybole in South Ayrshire. It is known for being visited by poets Robert Burns and John Keats.

The Category A-listed castle has been abandoned since the mid-18th century, with several failed attempts to restore it to its former glory. One plan was even pitched to the investors of Dragon's Den.

Baltersan has now been bought by a new owner, with Italian computer engineer Angelo Ovidi purchasing the site for an undisclosed amount. Ovidi took over ownership from James Brown, who has dedicated more than 30 years to safeguarding the roofless ruin.

The new owner is hoping to turn the castle into a music school and an arts events venue, with the cost of full restoration estimated at around £2 million. It will be funded partly by the launch of a food and drink brand trading on the striking image of Baltersan’s structure.

Ovidi, a self-employed consultant based in North Wales, first became interested in Baltersan in 2018 when he was looking for investment opportunities. He commented: "This is a fantastic place and I am excited to become its custodian.

Baltersan Castle near Maybole in Ayrshire.
Baltersan Castle is located near Maybole in Ayrshire. -Credit:© SWNS

"Baltersan has so much history and I am sure we can use that as a brand to generate income through local produce to both protect the castle’s future and support the local community. It is not impossible for us to restore this property if everything goes to plan, although I am trying to keep my feet on the ground.

"Restoration can be done in different stages. The first is to make the castle stable, then fix the bigger problem. I am keen to work with Scottish specialists, including Scottish stonemasons, to do all of this."

Advising on the sale was Mr Howie, a Glasgow-based Partner with independent Scottish legal firm Lindsays. He was familiar with Baltersan after having spent his early life just 17 miles away in Troon.

He said: "Selling a castle like this is pretty special. Its physical state and historic worth make it very difficult to value financially, but I think we found a shared passion and meeting of minds with James and Angelo.

"The vision for restoration is an ambitious one — and clearly a lot needs to be done. But, with the right sort of finance behind it, this could turn out to be an incredibly rewarding investment if Baltersan can be brought back to life.

"For lots of reasons, we see people from all over the world who are interested in investing in landmarks like this. There is a real market out there for people keen to invest in a slice of Scottish history, whether that be to live there or for other reasons, sometimes involving links to their family’s past."

Baltersan Castle near Maybole in Ayrshire
Baltersan Castle has been abandoned since the mid-18th century -Credit:© SWNS

When he handed over ownership of the castle, Brown presented Ovidi with a 'Crossraguel Penny' — part of a hoard discovered at nearby Crossraguel Abbey in about 1900. He also gave him a box of "earth, stone and grounds" from the land, in a nod to centuries-old Ayrshire tradition.

Brown, who lives in Ayr, fell in love with castles as a child. He was first drawn to Baltersan after coming across it while travelling for work.

He purchased the property in 1992, beginning a long journey to try and restore the site as a visitor attraction. He secured a £500,000 offer from Historic Environment Scotland to support any works, which sadly never materialised due to the global financial crash of 2008.

From left: James Brown, Angelo Ovidi and Nicholas Howie pose for a photo at Baltersan Castle.
James Brown, Angelo Ovidi, and Nicholas Howie pose for a photo at Baltersan Castle -Credit:© SWNS

Brown added: "Baltersan’s architectural and historical value is exceptional. It’s a remarkable place.

"I am so pleased to have found a new custodian, someone who appreciates its history and can continue the work that we have started.

"I do think this building is going to be saved. It will be restored."

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Brown made international headlines through his work at the castle. He even made his pitch to the Dragons’ Den in 2015.

He added: "In many ways, it’s with a heavy heart that I have parted with the place. But I can feel Angelo’s commitment to restoring the building. He has exciting plans."

Ovidi described former owner Brown as a "hero" for his work to preserve the landmark, adding: "James has done so much for this castle - an immense job.

Baltersan Castle near Maybole in Ayrshire
Baltersan Castle is famous for being visited by poets Robert Burns and John Keats -Credit:© SWNS

"Without his work, none of what I now hope to achieve would be possible. There is a lot of hard work to do.

"But I really do believe that we can do big things here. The history of the place can support a real business opportunity which, in turn, can support the restoration of Baltersan, which could be a fantastic venue for events."

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