FOR years they have lived in the humble laundry quarters of their stately home while well-heeled guests have availed themselves of the grandeur upstairs.

Glen House in the Scottish Borders has been the hub of an upmarket country leisure business playing host to glittering events from weddings to house parties and conferences to celebrity photo shoots.

Corporate guests were not deterred by the asking price of more than GBP14,000 for a weekend hire of the 22bedroom baronial mansion. The rich and famous have flocked to the secretive country retreat with model Kate Moss enjoying a New Year bash with the smart set.

Now, however, one of Scotland's most tragic families has decided the party is over and want to reclaim Glen House, set in a 5000 acre estate near Innerleithen, Peeblesshire, as a private residence.

In January, Tessa Tennant, widow of Henry Tennant, the son of multi-millionaire Lord Glenconner, and her 23-yearold son Euan will move back into the mansion, built in 1852, which will no longer be run as a commercial enterprise.

They have been living in The Glen's laundry quarters to allow the main house to be hired out but have decided they want their home comforts back.

Mrs Tennant, a successful environmental financier, said: "It was not an easy decision because The Glen has played an important tourism role in the Borders.

"It has been increasingly difficult to come back after trips to Hong Kong or Singapore. I feel the time is right for Euan and I to have that sense of really being home."

Though one full-time job will go, the decision will not affect the sporting activity on the estate.

The family fortune was made by the chemical bleach works in Glasgow during the Industrial Revolution which led to Glen House being built by Charles Tennant in 1852.

Lord Glenconner - Colin Tennant - was a close friend of Princess Margaret and hosted wild parties on his Caribbean island of Mustique as well as entertaining royalty at The Glen.

But for all their wealth the family has been dogged by tragedy. Lord Glenconner's eldest son Charles was disinherited after his father discovered his heroin addiction. He died in 1996, aged 39 of Hepatitis C.

In 1983 Tessa married Henry, the second son and heir to the family fortune.

But four years later he told her he was gay and moved in with his lover, later dying of an Aids-related illness, aged 29, in 1990.

The peer's youngest son, Christopher, was almost killed in a motorcycle crash and was in a coma for six months. He also has two daughters, twins Amy and May.

Lord Glenconner now lives in St Lucia and says he has no desire to return to Scotland.

Fiona Drane, VisitScotland Borders Area Director, said: "The Glen has been a very important venue in the film tourism market which is very lucrative and it will be disappointing to lose it.

"But I can understand the reasons why the family have taken this decision. However, the Borders is fortunate that it has so many other historic houses for visitors to enjoy."