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"Ein do bait spair nocht!" Glengyle House is said to be "the jewel in the crown"

Scottish Water (formerly known as West of Scotland Water) sold Glengyle House at auction 24 November 2004 to a Scotsman for 470,000 Pounds.

Here is an article from BBC News
Friday, 19 November, 2004

Rob Roy 'birthplace' auction plea

Nationalists are seeking to block the sale of a house built on the site where Scots hero Rob Roy MacGregor was reputedly born. Glengyle House, by the shores of Loch Katrine, is described by owner Scottish Water as "the jewel in the crown".

Scottish National Party MSP Richard Lochhead urged Environment Minister Ross Finnie to block the sale. However, Scottish Water said the B-listed building has lain empty for years and is "a surplus asset".

The property is one of six due to go under the hammer through SVA Property Auctions at the Quality Central Hotel in Glasgow on 24 November.

The life of outlaw Rob Roy, who was born in 1671, has entered into Scottish legend after his famous dispute with the then Marquis of Montrose. In 1715 he led his clan to battle in support of the Jacobites.

"It's unacceptable that a site of historic significance can be sold off to the highest bidder."
Richard Lochhead
SNP MSP

He was later charged with treason but escaped prison and lived the rest of his life as an outlaw. Rob Roy's legend was brought to the big screen in the 1995 Hollywood movie starring Liam Neeson and Jessica Lange. Glengyle House is said to stand on his birthplace and lies within the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park.

Scottish Water inherited the house when it was formed in 2002 and its sale has already attracted interest from the US, Germany and Australia. However, Mr Lochhead said the site is owned by the people of Scotland and should not be sold.

"This is a site that is owned by the people of Scotland, as Scottish Water is publicly owned," he said.

'Historic role'

"It's unacceptable that a site of historic significance can be sold off to the highest bidder and perhaps turned into a holiday home. The minister should instead be consulting on other potential uses for the site that would celebrate its historic role."

The three-storey house stands in six acres of land and has four main rooms on the ground floor with date stones in the porch from 1704 and 1728.

"Glengyle House is the jewel in the crown of the Loch Katrine properties which will be sold."
Peter Cook,
Scottish Water

A spokeswoman for Scottish Water said it had little choice but to sell the property. "We have to dispose of surplus assets in accordance with the Scottish public finance manual," she said. "This is a surplus asset, it has lain empty for more than five years and we have to spend money to make the structure wind and water tight. It needs more investment."

Scottish Water manager Peter Cook said the property had attracted significant interest. "Glengyle House is the jewel in the crown of the Loch Katrine properties which will be sold," he said. "We have had interest from a television company which is making a new programme about house auctions and is interested in charting the sale and gate of Glengyle House as part of its new series."

From the Scottish Parliament's Business Bulletin No. 169/2004
Friday 19 November 2004
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/businessBulletin/bb-04/bb-11-19f.htm

*S2M-2034 Richard Lochhead: Scottish Water’s Decision to Sell Rob Roy McGregor’s Birthplace—That the Parliament notes with concern that Scottish Water is set to auction to the highest bidder Glengyle House, where Rob Roy McGregor, the renowned Jacobite and declared outlaw, was born in 1671; notes that this historical building is currently owned by the people of Scotland who have not been consulted on its future, and calls for the house to be withdrawn from the auction which is due to take place on 24 November 2004 to allow a public debate on Glengyle House’s future to take place.

Previous Sales Attempt

In 2001 Scottish Water (formerly known as West of Scotland Water), owners of Glengyle House and the surrounding property, decided to sell off some of their holdings on Loch Katrine.

Glengyle House, the adjacent steading, and a boathouse were among these. Behind the house is the family burial ground. When the news was announced, MacGregors throughout the world showed great interest in the outcome of the sale. Many ideas were brought up: a MacGregor historical centre, a MacGregor B&B, etc.

Unfortunately the house, re-built in the late 1700s (the original was burnt after Culloden), was in such disrepair that it would take more money than the Clan Gregor Society could justify, let alone come up with. They did put in a bid on the Steading, dating from earlier times, where it was possible that Rob Roy was born on the 7th of March 1671. Rob was the 3rd son of Chieftain Donald (Glas) Gregor of Glengyle and Margaret Campbell, cousin to John Iain (Glas) Campbell 11th Laird of Glenorchy, later in 1681 The Earl of Breadalbane. Their bid was not accepted.

In 2001 a businessman in Edinburgh was the successful bidder on Glengyle House. The sale has since fallen through, as did the plans the new owner had of tearing down the house and developing a holiday rental at the site. The ownership of the house is currently being re-evaluated by Scottish Water and it may eventually be put up for sale by auction.

Today a group of concerned MacGregors and the Clan Gregor Society in Scotland are working towards a preservation solution.

Take a virtual tour of this once proud home and it's grounds!

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Photographs © Nancy West Johnson

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