Tudor Cottage receives Highly Commended Civic Trust Award

Tudor Cottage, Methven Castle was Highly Commended in the biennial Perth Civic Trust Awards.

The Perth Civic Trust Award was decided earlier in June 2013. This years assessors were Trevor Croft, reporter to the Scottish Government and former director of the National Trust and Steve Brady, trust manager, Scottish Civic Trust.

Earlier this year, 19th April 2013, the Perthshire Advertiser reported;

Garden Plan Grows - Tudor theme to castle couple's labour of love.

Having seen the once derelict Methven Castle painstakingly restored, another generation has embraced the challenges presented by the centuries-old building.

Architect David Murdoch and wife Alex acquired part of the castle's late 17th century walled gardens, which in their heyday turned out produce for hundreds of estate employees.

But, they have no intention of creating a commercially viable business within their two acres of the sprawling old Seven Acres sectioned gardens, where greenhouses and cold-frames provided a production line for an abundance of fruit, vegetables and flowers.

It was Mr Murdoch's parents Ken and the late Anna who tackled the intimidating restoration of a long neglected Royal retreat.

Now, in addition to the never-ending cycle of running repairs demanded by any old property, David harbours a vision for the walled garden, where he has created a stylish holiday home, harnessing near-forgotten Tudor era construction techniques with pegs rather than nails used in the French oak internal frame.

Helping to defray the cost of the latest Murdoch family project, 'Tudor Cottage' is a unique two-bedroom retreat with minstrel's gallery.

"Margaret Tudor, who married King James IV of Scotland, died at Methven Castle in 1542. It was given to her as a dower house" he said. "It would be home to the Royal entourage for a few weeks each year before they stank it out and all moved on!"

"The cottage isn't built with exposed oak beams and daub and wattle. Building Standards people might had something to say about that."

"But the oak frame was inspired by the Tudor era and was created as a jigsaw by Carpenter Oak and Woodland near Alyth, who were drafted in for the grand hall at Stirling Castle."

"The walled garden had been long forgotten and there was no potential for salvaging any of the derelcit greenhouses or frames. It was totally overgrown."

"But I was keen to bring some of the former grounds back to the castle. I would love to think we can re-create an element of its former glory but there are so many hours in the day."

"It is no easy project".

At the castle, the Murdoch's up market bed and breakfast is proving popular, with  a successful bid on the PA/Rotary Silent Auction providing a full-sized snooker table for the grand hall where Royals onced winded and dined.

"There is a massive amount or work still needed but I do feel a huge responsibility to continue the work begun by my mother and father in the days when they lived in a caravan in all weathers" said David.

"As a final year student of architecture at Dundee University I did my final year thesis on Methven Castle and spent a summer helping gut it out. So it genuinely has become a labour of love for the family. It has become part of the fabric of my life"

And on the theme of romance, when David and Alex tied the knot recently with a castle wedding they invited friends to donate to a chosen charity. But many insisted on a token to mark the occassion and David explained: "As a romantic notion we suggested they give us a tree for the walled garden. So we now have various apple, pear, plum and even a walnut tree to get the ball rolling, with the idea of creating an avenue of fruit trees down to the cottage!"