THE BSPC PROPERTY GUIDE / FEATURE PROPERTY
Named after a famous doll-maker, Nisbet House in Leitholm is a historic property with income potential Nisbet House, in the Berwickshire village of Leitholm, is a sizeable three-storey property that offers an ideal opportunity as a family home or operated, as it has been in recent years, as a successful Bed & Breakfast concern. Dating back to the mid 1700s, Nisbet House is perhaps best known as the one time holiday home of the Nisbet family, which included the famous doll maker, Peggy Nisbet whose costume dolls are popular with collectors around the world. The accommodation is both spacious and versatile, with three public rooms, cloakroom, breakfasting kitchen and conservatory on the ground floor, and five double bedrooms (two with en suite shower rooms), bathroom, shower room and study area over the first and second floors. The house also has a front garden and large, well-screened back garden adjoining farmland. Sheila Pile bought the property in 2003 with the intention of starting a B&B business. “It was exactly right in terms of size, which meant I didn’t have to spoil the house in any way when adding en suite facilities and converting the attic,” she says. The interior has been carefully modernised and upgraded in classic style very much in keeping with the age and character of the house, which has a number of beautiful original features, such as timber panelling in the entrance hall and ornate fireplaces in the dining room and two of the bedrooms. That said, the recently converted attic floor - which is accessed via a timber turned staircase and comprises large study area, two double bedrooms and a shower room - has a more contemporary look and feel complemented by good storage and abundant natural light from double aspect Velux windows.
As a family home, the attic floor would make an ideal teenage den or student accommodation. The front-facing sitting room has a bright and spacious setting with hardwood flooring, neutral cream and white decor, traditional fireplace (tiled surround, slate hearth and white-painted wooden surround) with inset Living Flame gas fire, large double window with built-in shelving below – and on the same wall, an unusual small octagonal-shaped window. The dining room is also to the front of the house, an equally well-proportioned room with two shelved cupboards and an ornate original fireplace. A rear hall off the main hallway continues with wood-panelled walls to dado height – off this is a cloakroom, conservatory (all with tiled flooring) plus a living room with a wood-burning stove. The kitchen overlooks the rear garden and is fitted with Shaker-style wall and base units with block wood-effect worktops and wood-panelled splashbacks. Other features include tiled flooring, a shelved recess, ceramic sink, and space for a slot-in cooker with overhead chimney-style extractor, and additional space and plumbing for a washing machine, dishwasher and freezer. Fully glazed, the conservatory is a lovely addition, especially as it overlooks and has access to the private rear garden, which is mainly lawn with plant borders, timber shed, potting shed, and perimeter hedging.
Nisbet House Leitholm, Berwickshire Asking Price £297,500 Details on page 16
Upstairs, the master bedroom and second bedroom are spacious rooms with south-facing windows and original fireplaces – both also have partially tiled en suite shower rooms. Rear facing, the third bedroom has views over the garden to farmland beyond. Another good-sized double room, it is on the same floor as the family bathroom, a traditional room with stripped floorboards and Heritage white suite (bath with overhead shower). Leitholm is a delightful village, rural but also close to Kelso, Duns (for access to Berwickshire High School – transport provided) and Coldstream. Local amenities include a village inn, church, hall and play park, with primary schools at Eccles/Leitholm or Swinton. Edinburgh is also within easy reach via the A697, while the Berwickshire coastline and rail station in Berwick-on -Tweed is only 15 miles away. Nisbet House is a one off, a historic property that has spanned several centuries and has the ability to provide a wonderfully spacious family home or a combined home and income -generating B&B business.
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