Restoration Home

Sandford House (2x2)

Air date: Jul 25, 2012

Sandford House is one of only two houses north of the border designed by arts and crafts architect Baillie Scott. It's a rare survivor, but how did such a building representing an important moment in British architecture end up in the lowlands of Scotland? Built as a famiy home in 1902, it spent half of its life as a 3-star hotel. Now abandoned, it fell into serious disrepair. Classed as a Category B property, the second highest listing for buildings in Scotland, it was in desperate need of help. Local couple Ralph and Evelyn had known the building for years. It used to be their local pub. As they watched it go downhill, their determination grew to save it. As the restoration starts to eat money, an intriguing tale of who built Sandford starts to emerge, linking it to Queen Victoria and an international business that operated across the world.