Ruins of ancient village 'haunted by a seer' go up for sale

The ruins of a village said to be haunted by a 17th-century seer who predicted the invention of trains and steamships has gone on sale.

The Old Village of Lawers, on the north shore of Loch Tay in Perthshire – whose ruins are a Scheduled Ancient Monument – is on sale for offers over £125,000.

The three-acre site includes a private beach, semi-ancient native woodland and trout fishing rights.

The ruins include Old Lawers Church, built in 1669, a mill, a kiln and the House of Lawers, said to stand on the site of an earlier house razed to the ground by the Marquis of Montrose in 1645.

The ruined village sits on the banks of Loch Tay. PA

The house’s last occupant was the Lady of Lawers, who is believed to haunt the village still.

She is remembered for various prophecies, some of which appear to have come true.

She claimed that the ridging stones for the church would never be put in place.

They were left on the shore, washed away by a storm and never recovered.

She said the church would fall when an ash tree planted near it reached the height of the spire.

When it reached that height, the church was so badly damaged in a thunderstorm it was never used again.

In referring to ‘fire-coaches’ crossing the Drumochter Pass, she is said to have predicted the coming of the railway.

She also talked about “a ship driven by smoke”, long before the construction of steamships.

The Lady of Lawers is also said to have predicted the Highland clearances, when tenants were driven off the land to make way for sheep.

This affected her own village in the 17th century when many villagers were evicted.

The ruins largely date to this time, although there is evidence of a settlement on the site before 1473.

The 1841 census lists 17 people living in the Old Village and it was abandoned early in the 20th century.

Historic Environment Scotland describes the site as “an upstanding and well-preserved example of a deserted settlement”.

Jon Lambert, partner at selling agents Goldcrest Land and Forestry Group, said: “This is an extremely rare opportunity to buy a part of Scotland’s heritage in one of the most beautiful places in the country.

“The sale offers a unique chance to be the owner and custodian of an area wonderfully rich in history, romance and tradition.

“The Old Village of Lawers also offers fabulous amenity. The owners can launch a boat on the loch and enjoy fishing, picnicking and camping. It is a very special site.”