I bought a CASTLE behind my husband’s back – now we’re renovating it for £12 million
A mother who bought an abandoned 17th century castle behind her husband’s back has been given the green light to turn it into a £12million wedding venue.
Nicole Rudder, 32, bought Garrion Tower in North Lanarkshire for around £250,000 in 2022 without telling her 37-year-old husband Grant.
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Last week, North Lanarkshire Council approved Nicole’s plans for £12 million renovation projectas she hopes to transform the abandoned castle into a five-star wedding venue.
After submitting her plans in August last year, the mother-of-two is now aiming to complete the work within 18 months from this summer.
People thought I was crazy, but when I saw it, I knew I could make this place something special again
Nicole Roer
Nicole told me Daily record: “We really intend to bring it back to life and make it a fixture for the local community again.”
The mother, from Chapelhall near Airdrie, is excited to start renovating the property with her close family and friends who she works with at her insurance company.
“It’s all friends and family, there’s a total of 17 people working on it,” she said
Nicole added: “We are very close, that gave me the confidence to do it.”
The team has previously renovated the AirBnBs it owns, but they are looking forward to the new challenge.
The council planners’ report said: “It is considered that the proposed works will not have a significant detrimental effect on the character, appearance and environment of the Category B listed building and will ensure its sustainable reuse.”
SECRET OFFER
The baronial castle was originally for sale for £800,000 and was later reduced to £400,000 after the seller received no bids.
The castle is in urgent need of repairs which could cost an estimated £5 million.
Despite all of Nicole’s closest family and friends now working on the project, she didn’t even tell her husband at the time that she had spent a quarter of a million on an abandoned castle.
Nicole admits that Grant “probably wasn’t happy about it” at the time and grew tired of his wife adding new properties to her project list.
However, the real estate expert is confident that she can turn her castle into something special.
THE JOB
Nicole’s newly purchased castle is home to some breathtaking history, including a Michelangelo painting that recently sold for a whopping £12.5 million.
As a result, she believes there will be a high demand for the future hotel and wedding venue.
She added: “This building has so much history, we have many testimonials from people who have lived and worked here.”
People from the community now have the opportunity to get married where their ancestors worked.
Without Nicole’s purchase, this building would have eventually been torn down if someone hadn’t gone in to save it, she claimed.
The Sun has contacted North Lanarkshire Council for comment.
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