history
Bolfracks House & Gardens
Bolfracks house & Gardens is steeped in history.
During the 17th and 18th centuries the Bolfracks Estate was owned by the Menzies family. It was sold in the late 18 th century to become part of the Taymouth Castle Estate.
Bolfracks became the residence of the factor for the Breadalbane Estate. The gothic front was added in c.1838 possibly by James Gillespie Graham who was working at Taymouth at that time. Between 1890 and 1914 the house was let by the Estate as a shooting lodge. When the Breadalbane Estate was sold in 1922, Mr and Mrs Hutchison, the grandparents of the present owner, bought Bolfracks. During the Second World War Polish nurses were billeted in the house in association with the hospital at Taymouth.
The oldest part of the building is to the south; a two story, three bay block. read more here
Current Owners
In 2020, Athel and Annie Price sold their estate to Davide Fregonese and Ivana Todoric, who fell in love with it at first sight during a brief visit in the summer of that year. The couple is dedicated to preserving the garden as per the original designs of Douglas Hutchison. This plantsman's garden, which offers breath-taking views of the Tay valley facing north, boasts several intriguing elements throughout the seasons.
Gardens
Bolfracks House boasts extraordinary gardens that serve as a peaceful and colorful haven, adorned with a remarkable array of rare and exceptional plants. The gardens at Bolfracks have no known origin, although a 1767 map depicts the gardens in their present form. Throughout time, the garden has undergone significant redesigning and replanting. Alongside the formal walled garden, there is an informal wooded garden that features a babbling brook. The garden boasts a vast collection of ericaceous plants, such as dwarf rhododendrons, azaleas, daphnes, heaths, phyllodoces, polygolas, and more. The summerhouse, constructed circa 1930, was initially intended for Mr. Hutchinson and his siblings during their childhood.
The garden showcases a diverse selection of trees, shrubs, bulbs, and perennials. The family mausoleum located in the burial ground contains the tombs of two Menzies family members and their wives, who were the garden's original developers. The property ceased to be under the Menzies' ownership in 1806.
The stream
The stream garden was planned and constructed by Ian Lawrie of Dundee in 1928 along the course of the Bolfracks Burn. It was restored and replanted from 1983-85.
A plantman’s garden
The garden faces north with fabulous views over the Tay valley. This plantman’s garden has many interesting features from springtime through to autumn.
Major renovations
In recent years, the garden has undergone major renovations. There are new Peony Beds where there was a very long herbaceous border. There is a new short and wide herbaceous border at the East End of the lawn. 2 huge old beds have been removed and replaced with 4 smaller manageable beds with new planting. Throughout the rest of the garden there have been special plants added to fill gaps and increase interest for the visitor.
