Craufurdland castle in Ayrshire has been in the family of the Scottish laird Simon Houison Craufurd since 1245. He is the 28th Craufurd laird to preside over 600 acres that surround the castle, built in classic Scottish baronial style. The Craufurds have been described as the thread that runs through the Tartan of Scottish history. Married to Adity, his wife of Indian origin, the estate not only supports Simon, but also supports their two daughters Indra and Manisha. Simon, Adity and Simon's siblings- all employed by the limited company that runs the estate.
However Simon fears that 770 years of ownership could come to an end because of the SNP government's new policies. Very soon the Queen will almost certainly give Royal assent to the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill, which will give local communities to buy private land, irrespective of the landowner's wishes. For Simon this is an unwelcome news. Unlike some Scottish laird he is not rich. Every corner of his family estate is engaged to make money- 470 acres are let to two tenants who farm beef and sheep, the rest is woodland, lake and gardens. Estate businesses include self-catering, accomodation, a fishery, a cafe, paintballing, a dog-sitting service, mount-bikling, an outdoor children's nursery. While the landed gentry is accused of being cut off from the locals and community, Craufurd's are a sure exception to the rule. In fact they are a leading example in a study of 23 family estates across Scotland, challenging the old belief- and suggests that the family owned rural seats are making substantial contributions to the wider community.
Craufurd's whole estate is open to locals to walk and cycle through. He lends his marquees to the village gala every year, helps them erect it at 7am. He has stopped his pheasant shoot, so that locals could walk through the woods.
The land pays for the castle. If the land is confiscated, the Craufurds could no longer live there.
He told the Sunday Times magazine, “Running an estate of this size is a struggle. It turns a profit because there is very litlle income coming to me or Adity or my brother and sister from it. The last three years I have worked for the estate for nothing, because I believe in what the estate can do.”
The SNP has been careful about avoiding any declaration of 'laird bashing'. Yet the rule is only applicable to rural lands and not houses or urban landholdings.
Photo courtesy: The Sunday Times
