2014 October 29th. Sneak preview of inside Crossbasket Castle
On Wednesday 29th October 2014, I was lucky enough to be one of 20 or so people invited along for a sneak preview of Crossbasket Castle, High Blantyre. The old, listed building has gone through a remarkable transformation in the last 2 years and today, by invite from the new owners Steve and Alison, some people saw just what an amazing transformation it is turning out to be.
The anticipation was in the air. Our privileged party were told we were the first members of the general public to view the restoration. On the same day as the official opening of the nursery, the invitees were permitted to enter the Crossbasket Castle and see one of the grand rooms which had been especially completed for a preview of what can be expected from this five star wedding venue. There were gasps of amazement and wows, as people filed into the room. The grandeur of one renovated room, whilst the rest of the castle still was a building site. And what a room!
Large renovated fireplace, beautifully highlighting the tapestry above it. A mirror which must have been 2m x 2m and ornate lighting was immediately apparent, but it was the fine detail that made this room. The guilding above the doors laced in gold leaf, the bespoke hand created cornicing around the room and the fine silky wallpaper. The room exuded finery and splendor and clearly with no expense spared.
We were then given a tour around the building (safely with builders down tools for a few moments) and saw the renovation progress throughout the rest of the building. It was incredible to think that when Steve and Alison bought the property, it was not watertight and wood inside rotted. Now, large bedrooms adorn the Castle, ensuite and how toasty the whole building was! Views out of the many windows on to gardens and the River Calder, with the function suite at the back still being built.
Crossbasket Castle is to be a five star wedding venue and is scheduled to be open early in the New Year. A reminder though, the Castle is still closed off to public with extensive building and decoration still underway.
Beware the place haunted by a ghost during renovation watchmans alsatian dog went downstairs to basement came running back up tail between legs whimpering,watchman went down,a very cold shiver,but nobody to be seen