THE BSPC PROPERTY GUIDE / FEATURE PROPERTY
Page 15
An apartment within a converted mansion house in Galashiels brings the past into the present
Built in 1874 and now listed category B, Abbotshill House is one of an important group of mill owners houses in Galashiels that reflects the success of the industry at its height in the late 19th century. The mansion house, which has since been carefully converted and retains a wealth of original features, was built for Archibald Cochrane, one of the partners in Netherdale Mill – a footpath direct from the house to the mill is still known as Archie’s Walk. Interestingly, the owner’s son, also called Archibald, became a doctor and gave his name to the Cochrane Review as a result of a book he wrote on evidence-based medicine, which achieved worldwide accreditation. When Annabel and Philip Toogood bought their lower west wing of Abbotshill eight years ago it was prompted by the beautiful setting and uniqueness of the property. “While the four acres of communal gardens and woodland is a huge attraction, we loved the fact that this wing has its own private garden,” says Annabel. “Better still, what was a gardener’s cottage had been very skillfully incorporated into the house during the conversion and makes an ideal granny flat.”
The layout, which is all on one level, includes an entrance hall, spacious living room, two bedrooms (one with en suite facilities), bathroom, dining-size kitchen, sun room, utility (which as an illustrator, Annabel also uses as a studio) and an integral studio flat comprising hall, open -plan bedsitting room/kitchen area with a multi-fuel stove, and shower room. A cobbled courtyard adjacent to this apartment adds to the overall character and ambience of the property, while the surrounding communal gardens and woodland are beautifully maintained and include ample parking spaces. The private garden is another delight, well stocked and incorporating a patio.
Internally, the apartment benefits from large sash and case windows and gas central heating. The living room has a feature fireplace and inset Living Flame gas fire, and the kitchen is attractively fitted with neutral wall and base units and includes an integrated dishwasher, fridge, and slot-in cooker with ceramic hob and electric oven, leaving plenty of free floor space for an American -style fridge freezer and dining furniture. The apartment also has excellent storage space throughout.
4 Abbotshill, 56 Abbotsford Road, Galashiels, TD1 3HP
The bedrooms are double size rooms and both have built-in storage – and the bedsitter studio flat is a useful addition that would delight a teenager, student (or granny) by giving them an independent space with windows at either end of the room and a proper kitchen work area. Situated in a prestigious area on the outskirts of the town, Abbotshill is well placed for local amenities and commuting to other nearby towns and villages. It also offers easy access to Edinburgh city centre.
Guide Price £249,950 Details on page 26