AN Inverclyde property firm has been appointed as the new letting agent for the retirement flats at Mariners' Court in Greenock.

The Category A-listed Sir Gabriel Wood’s Mariners’ Home is recognised as one of Greenock’s finest buildings, with the rear extension and adjoining retirement flats known as Sir Gabriel Wood’s Mariners’ Court.

The property was at the centre of controversy earlier this year when elderly residents demanded compensation after being left without central heating in their flats in the middle of winter for almost 11 weeks.

Gourock-based Bowman Rebecchi has taken on the management of the retirement flats, supporting the owners and tenants through its lettings arm,.

The four-storey block was built in the 1970s and comprises self-contained retirement accommodation in the form of 10 studio apartments and 20 one-bedroom flats.

Kathleen Docherty, office manager at Bowman Rebecchi, said: “It is a real honour to be named as the new managing agent for Sir Gabriel Wood’s Mariners' Court and it has been great to spend some time with the tenants over the past few weeks.

“The building and surrounds are an important piece of Greenock’s heritage and naturally we were delighted when the owners approached Bowman Rebecchi.

“It is further growth for our already extensive letting portfolio which stretches across the west of Scotland, and we continue to welcome new landlords on a regular basis.

“The properties themselves rarely come to market, and we are pleased to confirm that we have successfully secured a new tenant for the last available property.

“We look forward to growing a strong relationship with the tenants and landlords alike.”

READ MORE: Boglestone Roundabout: Inverclyde Council roadworks

The main Mariners' Home building remains in separate ownership.

It was previously operated as a care home for ex-mariners and seamen since being founded in 1850 by Sir Gabriel Wood, a Commissary General born in Gourock in 1767.

The home closed in 2020 before being sold the following year.

Wood travelled the world and held senior posts in North America during the Napoleonic Wars.

His family later moved to Greenock and following his death in 1845, his widow and sister, Lady Louisa Augusta Wood and Miss Francis Ann Wood carried out his dying wish to find a care facility for aged master mariners and merchant seamen within his native town.