THE house once owned by the creator of Scotland’s best-loved cartoon character, ‘Oor Wullie’, is on the market for just under £500,000.
Hillbank House in Blairgowrie, Perthshire was home to Oor Wullie’s ‘father’, Robert Low, for over 30 years.
It is said Mr Low was inspired to create the famous cartoon character after watching his own son play with friends.
With the help of artist, Dudley Watkins, his idea was brought to life and his antics are still enjoyed by people across Scotland today, more than 80 years after ‘Oor Wullie’ first appeared.
Mr Low owned the five-bedroom, Georgian ‘B’ listed house between 1954 and 1985, which is accessed through wrought-iron gates which lead to a private driveway.
The stone-built house is a far cry from the modest surroundings his fictional character was used to and comes with five bedrooms and three public rooms.
It’s now come on the market through Clyde Properties for offers over £475,000 which also includes a large garden with stunning views across the Perthshire countryside.
The house also comes with a large, stone-built former coach house as well as a modern solar panel system to help provide energy.
The home dates from 1832 and is no stranger to famous occupants.
John Clark, a former surgeon on a ship of the Honourable East India Company lived there in the 1800s and two-time Blairgowrie provost, James Chalmers, also once called ‘Hillbank’ his home.
Current owners Ashley and Murray Scott, who own a nearby hotel, have lived there for 11 years and three children.
Ashley even spotted a metal bucket in the house when they first moved in, which ‘Oor Wullie’ was famous for sitting on.
The property boasts a number of unusual features.
Many of the skirting boards are made from stone rather than timber and the huge kitchen comes with an Aga and solid marble worktops.
There’s also a downstairs shower room and a set of stone stairs lead to the basement whilst an original stained glass window still remains upstairs.
The property’s listing on the market coincides with Oor Wullie’s 80th birthday.
Celebrations have been taking place across the country, with many larger than life ‘Oor Wullie’ figures cropping up at various attractions around major cities.
A ‘Bucket Trail’, featuring sculptures of the character has been set up around Dundee to raise money for The Archie Foundation’s Tayside Children’s Hospital Appeal.
