Scottish Property News

Quiet, well-behaved neighbours guaranteed

The four-bedroom house, in London Road in Glasgow's East End is inside a cemetery.

But owner Brendon Keany, whose family has had the property for more than 60 years, says it's not as spooky as it sounds.

"I grew up here, and I never saw one ghostly apparition," said the 65-year-old, who now lives in Bothwell. "If there is a ghost, he's never spoken to me.

"Six of us grew up together there and we loved it. Being beside the cemetery never bothered any of us.

"More scary was the fact that our school was just 50 yards down the road!

"Our dad, Patrick Keany, was the cemetery superintendent, so the house was tied to his job until he retired. The Archdiocese of Glasgow runs the cemetery now."

The property is known locally as St Joseph's House. It was built in 1901, close to the Good Shepherd's convent, and the convent chaplain stayed in the house originally.

The house is one of 88 properties up for grabs at a Countrywide property auction at Hampden stadium on November 18.

Auctioneer Paul Bridgeman said: "It's great to get unusual properties like this - we've had a few over recent years, including a former church in the Borders, a lock-keeper's cottage in Argyll and Fort Augustus Abbey near Inverness.

"We don't often get houses in cemeteries, so it will be interesting to see how it goes."

The Keany family have let out the house for several years but have now decided it's time to sell.

"We're all a bit older now - my brothers are 70 and 67, my sister is in her 50s, so we've decided it's time to sell it," said Mr Keany.

"It's a good, sturdy house and would make a great family home, but there is a bit of work needing done on it. It would suit someone looking for a project."

The house has an enclosed garden and garage, with 0.9 hectares of land.

"A few years ago, we got outline permission to build two detached homes on the site but we didn't go ahead with it," said Mr Keany. "It overlooks the cemetery and beyond to the distillery and Celtic Park in the distance.

"It was always a happy house and I have a lot of happy memories.

"I expect some people may well be bothered by the fact it's so close to the cemetery - but at least the neighbours are very quiet!"

The guide price for the house is from £115,000 to £125,000.

Potential buyers who want to view the property should contact Countrywide North on 0845 543 6003.