THE BSPC PROPERTY GUIDE / FEATURE PROPERTY
Page 15
A six /seven bedroomed traditional family home in Stow offers more for a lot less than a comparable house in Edinburgh
There are a great many reasons to buy Dunedin, not least the fact that it is substantial and very desirable detached, three-storey family home dating from the early 1900s.
“We liked this area and Stow has a great primary school, and this house gave us more than double the space of our three bedroomed house – for the same money,” says Ruth.
But when you factor in the location – the village of Stow, just off the A7 and only 25 miles from Edinburgh city centre – it should make anyone currently living and working in the capital pause to reflect on how much a house of this size and stature in a similarly quiet and upmarket residential setting would cost in the capital by comparison. An awful lot more, is the short answer.
Believed to have been built by a Fountainhall builder for his own family, Dunedin occupies a sizable plot with mature gardens to the front, side and rear and an attractive driveway leading to a detached double garage.
Stow is a commuter’s dream location. The village has great local facilities, including a modern primary school, a new health centre and a multi-sports court; it is also within easy reach of Galashiels and, for those who prefer not to drive, on a regular bus route to Edinburgh and Galashiels. And it could get even better, as the village is scheduled to have a train station as part of the new Waverly Line. When Ruth and Nick Flavin bought Dunedin almost 25 years ago it was for all the reasons above. “I was expecting our fifth child and we needed a bigger house within commuting distance of Edinburgh for Nick’s work.”
Enclosed by stone walls, the grounds are an idyllic playground for children and pets – the rear garden is also particularly private and has lovely views of the surrounding countryside. In addition, there are two very useful outbuildings at the back of the garage, not forgetting the greenhouse in the rear garden. Inside, the house has retained many original features – including a very lovely stained glass window on the first floor landing - and with accommodation spread over three levels, there’s ample scope for a B&B business as well as a family home.
In their time here Ruth and Nick have installed central heating, reinstated an open fire in the living room (“we moved a pretty fireplace from one of the upstairs bedrooms,” adds Ruth), re-placed the kitchen and tiled the kitchen floor. The ground floor has a vestibule and hall, attractive living room with a front-facing bay window and open fire, dining room, modern and well-equipped dining kitchen with patio doors to the garden adjacent to the informal dining area, utility and spacious bathroom. Upstairs off the first floor landing is a second bathroom (white suite, built-in storage and over-bath shower) and four bedrooms – three double and one single, the latter currently used as a study, while the second floor houses a further three bedrooms, two with traditional dormer windows overlooking the gardens.
Clearly a much loved and well cared for family home for the last 25 years, Dunedin’s symmetrical appearance, external sandstone details, and leafy setting combine to make this an instantly desirable property that doesn’t disappoint once you move inside. For size, location and value for money, this house would be hard to beat.
Dunedin, 39 Townfoot, Stow, TD1 2QN Guide Price £390,000 Details on page 8