Friar's Hall, Melrose, Scottish Borders Guide price £1,200,000

Situation

Friar’s Hall is situated just outside the small village of Gattonside, which is a sought after country village. The house has an elevated setting overlooking the Tweed Valley towards Melrose and the Eildon Hills.
Melrose is within easy reach by a footbridge over the River Tweed. The town is one of the most beautiful in the Borders and is famed for its 12th century Abbey. It offers a range of specialist local shops, hotels, restaurants and recreational facilities. Melrose Rugby Club hosts the Melrose Sevens, which attracts teams from around the world.
For the country sports enthusiasts there is excellent salmon fishing and trout fishing on the River Tweed, as well as shooting on local estates. There are a number of golf courses in the area including The Roxburghe and Torwoodlee.
Melrose has a good primary school and a private co-educational prep school called St. Mary’s. Edinburgh (36 miles) has an exceptional choice of private schools. There is a school bus service from Gattonside to the high school at Earlston, 5 miles to the north. The Borders General Hospital is located on the far side of Melrose adjacent to the A6091 ring road. Galashiels, 4 miles to the west, is a larger town with a good range of professional services and shops, including a large Tesco, Asda and Marks & Spencer.

Description

Friar’s Hall is an exceptional Georgian country house. The house, which is ‘B’ listed, occupies an enviable position overlooking the Tweed Valley, towards Melrose and the Eildon Hills. It has a beautiful front façade, and elegant, well balanced accommodation arranged over ground and first floors. The original house was built in the 1750’s, while the east wing was added in the mid 19th century. The accommodation is ideal for modern family life, having been substantially improved by the current owners. Work carried out includes the installation of new bathrooms and shower rooms, re-decoration and re-carpeting throughout.
On the ground floor the front door opens into the reception hall with its elegant sweeping staircase to the first floor. From here a door leads through into the sitting room which is bow fronted. It has a stone fireplace with a wood burning stove and a door leading through into the dining room. This has a gas coal effect fire in a marble surround and a timber mantel piece. Both the dining room and sitting room have wonderful views. A door leads from the sitting room into a breakfast room adjacent to the kitchen, which is fitted with Clive Christian wall and floor units. These incorporate a newly fitted, four oven gas fired Aga, a double Belfast sink, a four ring Miele induction hob, with oven below and Corian work surfaces. There is a central island unit with a breakfast bar, stainless steel sink and drawer space. Integrated units include a Neff dishwasher. Off the east side of the breakfast room there is a utility room. This has a range of wall and floor units incorporating a Belfast sink, as well as space for a tumble dryer and a washing machine. The office, next door, has a gas coal effect fire and a shower room adjacent and could be used as an additional downstairs bedroom. On the west side of the hall, a corridor leads down to a self-contained bedroom suite with a double bedroom, dressing room and shower room.
On the first floor there is a magnificent drawing room. This has a bow window with spectacular views and, as its focal point, a superb open fireplace with fine Adam style mantel piece. The master bedroom suite is exceptional. It has a large double bedroom which leads through into a substantial dressing room with fitted wardrobes. There is a linen cupboard and the suite is completed by a substantial bathroom with a large bath, double shower cubicle, WC and round basin. Two further bedrooms are accessed off the principal landing, both served by a shower room. From the landing a corridor and steps lead down to the Victorian extension. This has three bedrooms and a dressing room and a staircase leading back to the ground floor.
Outside
Friar’s Hall is approached from the main road by a tarmac drive which leads to the back of the house, thus preserving the spectacular view to the front.
The principal garden at Friar’s Hall lies to the south of the property. There is a large terrace adjacent to the house, with wonderful views. From here a lawn slopes away from the house. This has a substantial shrub border with a variety of shrubs including laurel, rhododendrons on the east side, and mature trees including beech and oak on the west. The lower garden is separated by a beech hedge and has a large central lawn with a mature herbaceous border on the west side. This has a trellised archway, which then leads through into an orchard with a number of fruit trees and a greenhouse. This area would be ideal for a use as a kitchen garden. To the east of the central lawn is a further lawn with circular flower bed in the centre, shielded by mature trees and shrubs. From the garden, a gate enters the adjacent field, which in turn leads down to the banks of the River Tweed and the Southern Upland Way.
Situated to the north of the house there is a paddock, ideal for equestrian use. This may have potential for future development, subject to the necessary planning consent.
Outbuildings
Situated to the north east of the house are some excellent outbuildings. These include a garage with space for two cars, a potting shed, and three stores. These have potential to be converted into ancillary accommodation for the principal house, subject to the necessary consent. To the side of the principal outbuildings is a separate timber shed.
GENERAL REMARKS
Services
Mains water, gas and electricity. Private drainage.
Listing
Friar’s Hall is category B listed.
Fixtures and Fittings
All fitted carpets are included in the sale.
Servitude rights, burdens and wayleaves
Greywalls (a house built in the former walled garden) has a servitude right of access over part of the driveway and contributes to 50% of its maintenance.
The property is sold subject to and with the benefit of all servitude rights, burdens, reservations and wayleaves, including rights of access and rights of way, whether public or private, light, support, drainage, water and wayleaves for masts, pylons, stays, cable, drains and water, gas and other pipes, whether contained in the Title Deeds or informally constituted and whether referred to in the General Remarks and Stipulations or not. The Purchaser(s) will be held to have satisfied himself as to the nature of all such servitude rights and others.
Offers
Offers, in Scottish legal form, must be submitted by your solicitor to the Selling Agents.
It is intended to set a closing date but the seller reserves the right to negotiate a sale with a single party. All genuinely interested parties are advised to instruct their solicitor to note their interest with the Selling Agents immediately after inspection.
Deposit
A deposit of 10% of the purchase price may be required. It will be paid within 7 days of the conclusion of Missives. The deposit will be non-returnable in the event of the Purchaser(s) failing to complete the sale for reasons not attributable to the Seller or his agents.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
Savills, their clients and any joint agents give notice that:
1.They are not authorised to make or give any representations or warranties in relation to the property either here or elsewhere, either on their own behalf or on behalf of their client or otherwise. They assume no responsibility for any statement that may be made in these particulars. These particulars do not form part of any offer or contract and must not be relied upon as statements or representations of fact.
2.Any areas, measurements or distances are approximate. The text, photographs and plans are for guidance only and are not necessarily comprehensive. It should not be assumed that the property has all necessary planning, building regulation or other consents and Savills have not tested any services, equipment or facilities. Purchasers must satisfy themselves by inspection or otherwise.

Accommodation

See floorplans

Directions

From Edinburgh take the A68 south, passing through Lauder and Earlston. Continue south on the A68 and having crossed the Tweed, at the roundabout, turn right onto the A6091. Follow this road, passing the Borders General Hospital on the left, and at the first roundabout, take the third exit, onto the B6360. Bear left, cross the bridge over the River Tweed and take the first right towards Gattonside. Pass through the village of Gattonside, and the entrance to Friar’s Hall is on the right, just after the de-restriction speed sign.