A charming one-off country home for sale in the Scottish Borders

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BSPC FEATURE PROPERTY

A charming one-off country home near Hawick It always says a lot when people have lived in a house for many years – 36 years in the case of Rennie and June Thomson, who bought their beautiful country home in the village of Cavers, four miles east of Hawick, from the builder who converted the former cartshed, granary store and sawmill buildings in 1975.

One Millcourt is a unique property that also includes equestrian facilities – a stable block comprising three loose boxes, hay shed, feed store and a paddock.

And not only did the Thomsons raise three children here, they also trained National Hunt and Point to Point race horses and have had an amazing 18 winners in the process.

Various improvements have been made to the property over the years. “The main sitting room was originally two public rooms,” explains Rennie. “We took down the dividing wall and opened it up to make one large room with a feature fireplace and patio doors opening on to the front garden – now mainly lawn although originally it was a courtyard.”

The couple also created a fourth bedroom with en suite bathroom above the integral double garage – and as recently as a few months ago replaced the bathroom suite in the main bathroom.

The elongated two-storey layout is ideal for family living, with a hall, cloakroom, amazing 32ft sitting room, country-style dining kitchen, utility and back porch.

Upstairs are two bedrooms, main family bathroom with bath and separate shower, a study (could also be a nursery or dressing room) and a hall fitted with built-in wardrobes that leads to bedrooms three and four, the latter with en suite bathroom.

While this home has numerous features that merit highlighting – the beautiful arched windows and red sandstone facade being a notable attraction, along with unobstructed views of the Eildon Hills and Ruberslaw – the room with the most wow factor is undoubtedly the huge sitting room.

“And not only did the Thomsons raise three children here, they also trained National Hunt and Point to Point race horses and have had an amazing 18 winners in the process.”

BSPC FEATURE PROPERTY

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ideal for raising children – and champion horses This spacious room has a brick fireplace incorporating a raised open fire, tongue and groove ceiling, two large arched windows and patio doors.

The dining kitchen is similarly striking, with a beamed ceiling, tiled floor and splashbacks, wooden wall and floor units and appliances, which include an integrated electric oven, extractor, hob, microwave and dishwasher – a shelved walk-in pantry currently houses the fridge freezer. The utility room is also well equipped and includes space for laundry appliances and a Belfast sink.

In addition, two of the bedrooms have built-in storage / wardrobes – storage is also built into the upstairs landing and hall.

Outside, a shared driveway leads to a private parking area, stable block and paddock. There is also a double garage, and easily kept gardens – the front garden, although mainly grass, has an attractive paved area for seating and patio furniture.

1 Millcourt , Hawick, TD9 8LN In Region of £390,000 Details on page 9

Millcourt is a ‘forever’ kind of family home in a lovely rural setting, yet only a few miles from schools and other facilities in Hawick – arguably the best of both worlds.

The name ‘Cavers’ means ‘enclosure’ and the hamlet can be traced back to 1314, when Robert the Bruce rewarded Sir James Douglas with lands spread across Scotland, including Cavers.

It remained in Douglas hands until as recently as 1975, when James Palmer-Douglas moved away from the area and the remaining lands of the once vast estates in Roxburghshire were put on the market.