THE BSPC PROPERTY GUIDE / FEATURE PROPERTY
Page 13
A traditional terraced house in Lauder that’s big on space – and has a historic castle as a neighbour
Number 43 East High Street is a substantial stone-built terraced house in Lauder with lots of space for family living, including four bedrooms, which was one of the things that attracted the Cormack family when they first saw the house in 2003. “We were looking for an older property with a bit of character and from that point of view the house is ideal,” says David Cormack. “Working in Edinburgh at the time, the commute from Lauder is easy – and still is even though I now commute to Berwick Upon Tweed. With four children we were also attracted by the schooling – Lauder primary moved into a new building in 2010 and Earlston High School has an excellent reputation. And while the house has lots of interesting interior features, it also has a sunny, fully enclosed rear garden that includes fruit trees, a vegetable garden, and plenty of lawn space for children’s toys and a trampoline.” David adds: “The back of the house directly overlooks historic Thirlstane Castle and enjoys a beautiful vista along the River Leader valley as the river meanders through the grounds of the castle, which also have some lovely walks and coming from Edinburgh, this accessibility to nature was another motivating factor for us.”
The property was in good condition and apart from some cosmetic improvements, such as sanding the wooden floors in the upstairs living room and one of the bedrooms, the Cormacks have not altered the look or the character of the house. The ground floor layout includes a hall with original flagstone floor, cloakroom, well -proportioned sitting room with a stone fireplace and multi-fuel stove, spacious dining kitchen, utility, one bedroom, plus an adaptable area off the sitting room that could be used for a variety of purposes. Off the first floor landing is a second sitting room with a recessed fireplace and woodburning stove, study, family bathroom (with mixer taps, shower fitting and shower screen), and main bedroom with en suite shower room.
A wooden staircase also leads up to the attic floor where there are two further double bedrooms with coombed ceilings and rear-facing dormer windows, along with eaves storage. Almost as large as the sitting room, the kitchen is unusual on two counts - it’s front facing and also has a very ornate plastered ceiling. Fitted with a range of off-white Shaker-style floor and wall units with contrasting laminate worktops, it includes an additional full-height cupboard, recessed cooker with both gas and electric hobs, and recess housing for a dishwasher and fridge. Having a living room on both the ground and first floor is clearly a big advantage for families, especially as in this instance both rooms are equipped with a stove.
43 East High Street Lauder
Interestingly, the stone-built utility, an adjoining room projecting out from the main building, is thought to date from the original property on the site, which according to the title deeds was built in the 1700s. A sizeable space, the utility is plumbed for laundry appliances and has more than enough space for a freezer, garden tools etc. The rear garden, like the house, is mature and ideally suited for a family with children and/or pets. Fully enclosed by stone walls, a door in the back wall opens on to a quiet lane which is suitable for off-main street parking. With a paved patio, shrubs, trees, lawn, and dedicated areas for flowers and vegetables, this is a garden that will appeal to all ages.
Offers Over £230,000 Details on page 28