A tale of Queens, ‘butchers’, musicians and ship owners.
House and garden
Heathpark House was built around 1837 by John Thane of Dundee, one of Scotland’s wealthiest ship owners. Thane built the house and used the estate as a retreat from the big city, and we believe it still holds that same character of homeliness and stillness.
We’re lucky to be sat in just under two acres of mature gardens, framed by tall trees and visited by red squirrels, a variety of birds and other animals. The exterior of the house is constructed from painted harled stone (actually, small shell pieces). Indoors, features include spacious, elegant bedrooms, high ceilings, a handmade timber staircase and a stained glass cupula above the stairwell.
Blairgowrie is a central Perthshire location - just 30 minutes north of Perth and Dundee, and less than a 1 hour 30 minute drive from Edinburgh and Glasgow. But, back in the mid-1700s, the area where Heathpark House stands was grazing land, and Coupar Angus Road was a one-lane track for horses and coaches.
Records tell the tale that, in 1746, the Duke of Cumberland’s cavalry camped on the site of Heath Park Estate for six weeks before travelling to the Battle of Culloden. The youngest son of King George II, Cumberland was nicknamed ‘Sweet William’ by his political supporters and ‘Butcher’ by his opponents.
The same year Thane built Heathpark House, Queen Victoria came to the British throne. The Queen and Prince Albert would take the route from Blairgowrie to Glenshee and Braemar on the way to Balmoral - named ‘The Royal Route’.
In the 1850s, the house was sold to Thomas Clark, the owner of a reputable printing and publishing company in Edinburgh. In the early 1900s, the estate was sold to a Miss Guthrie, Lord Lieutenant of Perthshire. Then, in the late 1930s, the house was taken on by a local vet. It’s said that while he owned the house, and his mother lived in Heathpark Lodge down the drive, there were many great musical evenings, as both were thought to be talented violinists.
