Wick cemetery lodge house brought back from brink of destruction and modernised – now on sale at offers over £145K
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A Victorian building at the entrance to Wick's old cemetery that had been repeatedly vandalised and used as a drug den has been modernised and is now for sale.
The property is known as RUAG House and had previously been owned by an Italian composer called Francesco Perotti who bought it in October 2001 but abandoned the property in 2006 after it had been targeted by vandals and heavy drug users.
In a Groat article from May 2019, Mr Perotti claimed he was a "victim of indifference and abandonment" by the local police and council officials. He talked about his home being "invaded by young junkies" at various times and feeling powerless to do anything about it as he was living abroad.
"Since the first devastation in April 2002, I had my home inspected by the Wick police and two inspectors came," he said. "Inside my house everything had been stolen – chandeliers, glass doors, and more. And everything had been devastated – furniture, furnishings, carpeting, double and triple glazing of the numerous windows."
After a long email exchange with Mr Perotti in 2019 in which he initially thought he may be able to "bring this property back to life", he eventually conceded it was too much for him to deal with and said he felt unable to cope with the "impediments and complications" of the matter.
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Graveyard drugs den owner speaks out
"I already lost too many years because of this story and the indifference I have been a victim of," he recently admitted. Though he felt he had no alternative but to put the property up for sale, he says he would still like to return to Wick if his circumstances change.
RUAG is an acronym meaning "Rise Up And Go" – the words that Jesus said to Lazarus when he rose from the dead – and when Mr Perotti was shown a recent photograph of how the house had been redeveloped he was delighted that it had also "risen up" from the ashes of destruction.
"Thank you for the news that Ruag House has been repaired. Now the spirit has won the darkness, and has given light to this house. Thank you, this photo can show to me all the beauty of the light that comes from God."
The property is for sale by estate agent Young Robertson & Co which describes it as "a unique Victorian property situated in the grounds of the old Wick Cemetery.
"Now fully renovated, and in walk-in condition, accommodation comprises vestibule, hallway, living room, kitchen/diner, three bedrooms and shower room. Viewing is recommended of this Victorian building which now has a bright and modern interior."
The South Road property is listed for sale at offers over £145,000.
