Earl of Dalhousie puts castle up for sale

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James Ramsay, the 17th Earl of Dalhousie, announced in February that he would sell the family home, Brechin Castle, and the surrounding gardens in Angus, Scotland.
He said that he and his wife would move into a smaller house on the estate once the castle has been sold.

"We have therefore taken the decision to put the house and gardens up for sale and my wife and I will move to another smaller house on the estate once the sale is complete.

“The rest of the estate at Brechin, Edzell, and Invermark, and all our business enterprises, including Brechin Castle Centre and Peggy Scotts (a restaurant), as well as our farming operation, forestry, game and property letting, will continue to operate as at present and, other than those who are employed at Brechin Castle itself, there will be no change in our present staffing, which now numbers around 90 full and regular part time staff.“Indeed, we will continue to explore opportunities to expand and diversify the family business.”

Brechin Castle has been in the Dalhousie family for 250 years.

James Hubert Ramsay was born on January 17, 1948.   He is the third child and eldest son of Simon Ramsay,  16th Earl of Dalhousie, and Margaret Stirling of Keir.    He married Marilyn Butter on October 3, 1973.  They have three children, Lady Lorna Lefebreve, Lady Alice Dickinson, and Simon, Lord Carnegie, who is married to an American, Kaitlin Kubinsky.

Lord Dalhousie has five grandsons.  Lord Ramsay's son, the Hon. William Fox Ramsay is second in line to the earldom.

Lady Dalhousie is the second of five children of Myra Alice Wernher and Major Sir David Butter.  She is the granddaughter of Sir Harold Wernher, Bt, and Countess Anastasia Torby (styled as Lady Zia Werhner, after her marriage) and a great-granddaughter of Grand Duke Michael Mikhailovich of Russia and his morganatic wife, Countess Sophie von Merenberg.  One of her godparents was her great-aunt, Nada, Marchioness of Milford Haven.

Lord Dalhousie is also chief of the Clan Ramsay, and since 2009, Lord Steward of the Household.   The position is a personal appointment by the Sovereign.  He succeeded the Duke of Abercorn in the position.  The Duke of Abercorn's late wife, Sacha, was the Countess of Dalhousie's first cousin.

Another family home, Dalhousie Castle, was sold in 1977.  The castle and estate had been in the family for eight centuries.  It is now a luxury hotel.

Savills is seeking offers of over £3,000,000.

https://assets.savills.com/properties/GBEDRUEDR190005/EDR190005_EDR19000266.PDF

https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle-2-15039/clan-chief-puts-family-castle-on-market-after-250-years-due-to-high-running-costs-1-4869589


https://search.savills.com/property-detail/gbedruedr190005