THE BSPC PROPERTY GUIDE / FEATURE PROPERTY
Page 15
Steeped in history and re-designed for modern living – a Galashiels conversion spans the centuries in style
Built in 1869 for a local mill owner, Balnakiel House is one of the town’s most impressive Victorian mansion houses, a legacy stemming from a textile industry that can be traced back to the 16th century and later led to a rapid increase in the local population - at its height rising from 1,600 in 1825 to 18,000 in 1891. Interestingly, Galashiels may be expanding once again, as the arrival of the railway next year (second time around) will undoubtedly enhance the town’s lifestyle location with Edinburgh commuters. While Victorian architecture can be highly embellished for purely decorative effect, Balnakiel House is more reserved, with only a smattering of crow-steps, a tower topped with an ornate wrought iron ‘crown’ and a crenelated, tower-like entrance. The house was converted in 2007 to create four individual properties, which share the extensive garden grounds and main entrance hall, with its elegant original staircase and magnificent stained glass windows on the mid-landing. Flat 2 is on the ground floor to the front and one side of the building.
The interior of this very desirable home is even more impressive – and decorative. While it’s easy to list the accommodation – drawing room, dining-size kitchen, three double bedrooms (one with en suite shower room), family bathroom and utility/laundry – it gives no real inkling as to the sheer impact and features within. Apart from its beautiful proportions and overall size (30ft x 27ft), the drawing room is an exceptionally light space with bay windows to both the front and side. It also has exquisite plasterwork, with an ornate frieze in addition to cornice and ceiling rose. Topping it off is an original mahogany parquet floor and a white marble fireplace – all features that would likely be cost-prohibitive to specify nowadays. The superbly well equipped 18ft dining kitchen – refitted in 2007 as part of the conversion – has also retained the original mahogany parquet floor, which is contrasted with contemporary wall lighting and streamlined wall and floor units with stainless steel finishes, abundant worktop space, and integrated appliances – gas hob, overhead extractor, electric oven, fridge freezer and dishwasher.
As elsewhere, the two windows are a key feature – large, low level and overlooking the garden. With an overall internal floor area of 1,981sq ft, this sizeable home is conveniently all on one level, with the public rooms at one end of the hall and the three double bedrooms and bathroom at the other end. The principal bedroom is particularly attractive and, like the kitchen, benefits from having two large windows overlooking the garden. On a practical note, it has a modern en suite shower room and a wall of fitted wardrobes. The third bedroom has, in the past, been used as a study and is ideal in size for that purpose. And the main bathroom is not without wow factor either; it has an oval-shaped bath with overhead shower, circular washbasin and extensive tiling.
Flat 2, Balnakiel House, Galashiels, TD1 1TQ
Offers Around £220,000 Details on page 34
Last but not least, the 13ft galley-style utility/laundry is equipped with a sink and space for appliances – it also has a door giving direct access to the garden. This is the only property in the building to have private garden access – and from two areas, as the drawing room has a quirky feature. The full-height side bay window has a pane that discreetly serves as a door. Large enough for a family but also likely to appeal to downsizers and those looking for an unusual property that has been extensively upgraded and is equipped for 21st century lifestyles, but also has the character, features and proportions of a period property that was designed to impress – and still does.