ICONIC Ardgowan House in Inverkip is being opened up to the public following a major £200,000 overhaul.

The famous 18th century mansion, owned by the Shaw Stewart family, has become a popular venue for weddings and tourists in recent years, but now the red carpet is being rolled out for members of the public with a series of events planned over the coming weeks and months.

Sir Ludovic 'Ludo' Shaw Stewart, 12th baronet, has been on a mission to restore the centrepiece of Ardgowan Estate and welcome guests inside to learn about its links to the likes of Princess Diana and Princess Margaret to Pocahontas and Napoleon.

Ludo has hired Lauren Deveney, formerly manager of Gourock Outdoor Pool and gym, to lead the charge, which started two years ago thanks to the filming of BBC One Agatha Christie drama 'Ordeal By Innocence'.

The TV show, starring Bill Nighy and Eleanor Tomlinson, was shot at Ardgowan House and laid the foundations of for an extensive £200k makeover of the property, which was completed in 1801.

Ludo said: "They did a lot of decoration to the house, which set us up really well.

"They completely repainted the library green to match Eleanor Tomlinson's dress. "Since then, a lot more work has been done. "For me, this marks a real turning point opening up the house a lot more for events."

Last year, 4,000 people passed through the doors for guided tours.

The majority of guests were cruise passengers, although ironically from ships berthed in Stranraer as opposed to Greenock.

New events manager Lauren started in November having been organising weddings at Ardgowan for the last three years - with the first of 2020 already done and dusted when a couple from America tied the knot.

Another busy year of ceremonies and tours is expected, but that is just the tip of the iceberg.

Lauren said: "We're letting people know we exist, particularly our Inverclyde base, and that they can come here for all sorts of events.

"What was once a private family home is now a venue.

"We've just launched a Mother's Day afternoon tea, for example, and that has really taken off.

"The reaction has been huge.

"It's good for us to know that people do want to come here."

Ludo, who grew up in Inverkip, returned home six years ago having moved away to study at university before working as an art dealer at Sotheby's in London.

He is now focused on the upkeep and development of Ardgowan Estate, which stretches back more than 800 years and was also visited by the likes of Robert the Bruce and Florence Nightingale.

The foundation stone of the house was laid in 1798 and the building was completed just three years later.