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A 19 th Century former schoolhouse and hall in the scenic Borthwick Valley near Hawick offers rural living with a few added extras Two years ago, while hunting for the perfect house and location in the Borders, Suzanne Thompson and her partner Simon Veit-Wilson discovered Howpasley Schoolhouse, situated within the picturesque Borthwick Valley 14 miles and a twenty-minute drive from Hawick. Dating from around 1879, Howpasley continued to be a school until 1955 when the schoolhouse was sold, however, the adjoining schoolroom (linked internally to the house) was used as a community hall until 1981, at which point it was bought by the then house owner, renowned equestrian artist, Leesa Sandys-Lumsdaine.
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Howpasley Schoolhouse
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WHEN YOU’RE BUYING OR SELLING PROPERT Y . . . IT HAS TO BE BSPC
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Howpasley Schoolhouse
The four bedroomed property has changed hands since then – most recently to a teacher who held tai chi classes in the 30ft school hall – and as the property also has a range of outbuildings including stables and almost an acre of garden grounds with a small paddock and area of rough grazing, Howpasley could be an ideal home for an equestrian enthusiast. Or simply for anyone who relishes the prospect of being rural but not remote within an area of outstanding natural beauty that offers glorious views, clean air, and numerous outdoor opportunities, including cycle paths, mountain biking routes and walks in nearby Craik Forest.
Featured Property Howpasley Schoolhouse, Craik, Hawick, TD9 7PS
In Region of £289,000 • Details on: Page 25
“We wanted a property where we could step out of the house, breathe in the views and walk or cycle without having to get in the car and this house provides that perfectly,” says Suzanne. “More than that, it offers so many benefits not obvious from a short visit – spectacularly dark skies and vivid stars, absolute silence, the changing light, and a wide variety of wildlife and birds, including a resident tawny owl, woodpeckers, cuckoos and buzzards.”
Since buying the property, Simon and Suzanne have carried out numerous improvements to the fabric of the building, including re-pointing walls, upgrading chimneys and the south-facing patio and relining and/or replacing drains. Internally, a new combi boiler has been installed and the central heating (oil plus a multi-fuel stove) extended into the school hall.
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“We wanted a property where we could step out of the house, breathe in the views and walk or cycle without Many of the walls have been stripped back, reinsulated, re-boarded and plastered, and with the exception of the school hall, the whole house has been re-decorated in neutral shades. The house also has a private water supply.
having to get in
The main house is a substantial stone-built two-storey building with accommodation that extends from a delightful entrance vestibule (slate floor) and inner hall, off which is a living room with focal fireplace, slate hearth and multi-fuel stove, modern fitted kitchen leading into a dining room with large windows and a door connecting it to the rear garden, ground floor double bedroom, utility and adjoining shower room - and the school hall, an amazing space that offers enormous scope in terms of use and also has a rustic -style ladder up to a mezzanine level with two overhead Velux windows.
that perfectly ”
The garden grounds comprise three main areas: behind and in front of the house is lawn with planted borders and the paved patio is an ideal spot for entertaining; around and behind the stable outbuildings is wild with trees and has provided a Christmas tree in the past; and the paddock is fenced off.
Upstairs, the main bathroom is off the half landing and the remaining three bedrooms (one double and two single) are on the first floor, which also has plenty of space to incorporate a study area within the landing.
Howpasley is a Borders gem and given the added potential of the school hall and outbuildings (both of which could be turned into separate properties), offers a unique opportunity to acquire a country lifestyle while still being part of the socially active Borthwick Valley community. Rural living doesn’t get much better than this.
the car and this house provides
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