06/06/2008 01:01:00
rinces Charles will visit Ayrshire to open a unique stately home that he helped save to the public.
Dumfries House, near Cumnock in Ayrshire, sits in nearly 2,000 acres and was designed 250 years ago. The former home of the Marquises of Bute, it was last occupied in 1993.
The Prince helped to arrange a deal to save the house and preserve its collection of Chippendale furniture after the 7th Marquess of Bute put it up for sale early last year. It was on the market for around £25 million and a consortium of charities and the Scottish Government, based in Edinburgh, purchased it last summer. The Prince's Charities Foundation contributed £20 million to the fund.
It was a last minute reprieve for the furniture collection, made especially for the house by Thomas Chippendale, which was close to being auctioned separately and spread across the globe.
Restoration work to make the A-listed property suitable for the public began in January this year. Renovation tasks included building a new access road, ensuring the house was able to meet Health and Safety regulations and cleaning furniture. The chief executive of the Great Steward of Scotland's Dumfries House Trust, Mike Schafer, told the BBC:
"The building was in good condition and the collections are in relatively good condition.
"But taking the property from a private residence to a visitor attraction is a 180 degree turn and it is a massive task."
It is now hoped that the Georgian mansion will encourage tourists to visit Ayrshire, central Scotland, and help regenerate the local economy. Mr Schafer said:
"We already have Culzean Castle and the Burns attractions in Alloway and this will be another destination nearby. I am looking forward to developing the estate and contributing to the social regeneration of the area."