Charles & Sadie Dixon-Spain moved to Glendaruel in 2003, when they bought the derelict Dunans Castle: At first they lived in the cottage behind the Glendaruel Hotel until a large ‘red shed’ could be built in the grounds of the castle for them to live in.
They spotted the Castle ‘For Sale’ on their way from Arran to Lismore in 2002. A friend and builder told them to ‘no bother about a wee bit o’ dry rot’, so they weren’t.
The couple had lived in London since their marriage in 1999, and moving to Glendaruel brought them closer to family. Charles father, ‘Roger’ and stepmother ‘Gilly’ on the Isle of Lismore and Sadie’s mother ‘Susan’ in the Isle of Arran. Charles’ family came from Norfolk ( http://ourillustriousfamily.
Over the first few months in the Glen, all their worldly goods were stored in a cow shed at Achenelid, by the very kind Michael Kaufman & Elizabeth Fairbairn. Their daughters, Harriet & Georgia, were both born here and attend Kilmodan Primary School. For the family, life in the Glen has been very busy over the last decade. Now living in the old and original Dunans House, they moved in in 2007, the restoration of the grounds and Castle continue. Both starting new businesses here, Charles runs Scottish Laird, and Sadie is the Artistic Director and playwright of The Walking Theatre Company.
