Edinburgh home up for sale comes with a very long-term houseguest

This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.

The current owners say Torty the tortoise is officially part of the furniture.

A house in Murrayfield on the market for £975,000 comes with an ancient pet tortoise included in the price.

Owners Ana and Alec Wersun told The Times that Torty the tortoise has lived in the garden of their home for at least 70 years, having been brought to Edinburgh from Greece as a hatchling.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The pair are the third set of guardian’s Torty has enjoyed, after they moved into the five bedroom house thirty years ago.

A house in Murrayfield on the market for £975,000 comes with an ancient pet tortoise included. (Stock photo)A house in Murrayfield on the market for £975,000 comes with an ancient pet tortoise included. (Stock photo)
A house in Murrayfield on the market for £975,000 comes with an ancient pet tortoise included. (Stock photo)

But now they are taking applications for their replacement in the role.

"Removing these animals can be traumatic for them," Mr Wersun, a senior lecturer at the Glasgow School for Business and Society, explained.

"We have to respect his home. When the sun comes up at 4.30am he is already out marching."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It is a walled garden so he cannot get out,” he added, describing Torty as a “stubborn adventurer”.

Torty “is inextricably linked to the house," insists Mrs Wersun. New owners will often find him sleeping under a tree in the garden, sunbathing on the grass, and stealing lettuce leaves from the vegetable patch.

A Message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the highest standards in the world. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers and consequently the advertising that we receive. We are now more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you

Joy Yates

Editorial Director

Comments

 0 comments

Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.

Dare to be Honest
Follow us
©National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice