AMBITIOUS plans to turn the Scottish headquarters of Bonnie Prince Charlie into a major new visitor attraction have reached a key milestone after the 17th century mansion was secured in a community buyout at a knock-down price.
Bannockburn House, near Stirling, has been removed from the market and offered for £800,000 to a community trust set up to preserve the historic property. Bonnie Prince Charlie stayed at Bannockburn House in early 1746.
The house and 25 acres of ground had originally been for sale for £1.5 million. The Bannockburn House Trust is now forging ahead with its plans to turn the site into both a major new visitor attraction for Stirling and a valuable space for the community where events, including weddings, can be held.
Trustee Iain McMenemy said the deal was a “huge step forward” for those seeking to secure the future of the property with hopes the next fundraising push would be aided by the current “buzz” surrounding the Jacobites.
McMenemy said: “There are a lot of places in Scotland that claim to have a link to Bonnie Prince Charlie but there are not many places where you can tread on the same floorboards and walk where he walked.
“There is such a strong connection to him at the house, there is almost an eeriness to it.”
The Bannockburn House Trust is working with the Scottish Land Fund to secure a grant of £600,000 to help buy the building from the English owner Peter Drake.
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