THE BSPC PROPERTY GUIDE / FEATURE PROPERTY
A historic former forge near Hawick is now a spacious family home albeit still with vestiges from the past Semi-detached stone-built cottages are common enough throughout the Borders however, this historic former blacksmith’s forge near Hawick is quite unique, a seamless blend of olde world charm and character and all the modern essentials for 21st century lifestyles. In more recent years The Old Forge was a well-known and popular restaurant. Converted to domestic use in 2003, it was bought by John and Christine Healy two years later. “We loved the rural setting, the spacious rooms, and the character of the cottage,” says Christine, “it’s a very wonderful family home.” The Healys have made their own mark on the cottage, having upgraded the electrics and insulation and installed a new damp course, kitchen (with Aga), bathroom, carpets and flooring. They have also reworked a room at one end of the property, which has its own front door. “It was originally a byre for animals,” Christine explains. “We made it a more attractive room by giving it double-glazed French windows to the rear garden, which has open aspects and is a major attraction in its own right.” This room is now a guest bedroom, although having its own front door would also make it suitable for use as a home office, fitness studio or craft room. The house has also been freshly decorated throughout in neutral tones to complement stunning original features, such as beamed ceilings and exposed stone walls. The accommodation is all on one level- but looks can be deceiving and this cottage interior offers space in abundance.
In addition to quirky features like having three external doors to the front – one to the guest bedroom, one to the living room and one to the hall in what would originally have been the main living quarters. The floored attic space – currently used for storage and accessed by a pull-down ladder – has been re-insulated and could offer scope for conversion subject to the right consents.
But for visual impact and character the sitting/dining room is hard to beat. Original timber beams, exposed stone walls, porthole windows, its own front door but best of all, a raised open stone fireplace with cast iron multi-fuel stove, built-in log store and, at one side, a set of working forge bellows – a unique feature and a reminder of the building’s past.
Off the hall is a large front-facing master bedroom with built-in wardrobes and a very pretty window seat, beautiful bathroom with travertine tiled floor and bath area, white suite and over-bath mains shower (combi boiler), two further good-sized double bedrooms (both with built-in storage) and an absolutely stunning dining kitchen with sliding doors to the rear garden.
The large chipped driveway at the front of the house requires minimal maintenance, while the timber fenced rear garden has been landscaped and includes mature trees and shrubs (external power/water/lighting), a large monoblocked area, chipped areas, lawn, lean-to log store and single garage.
Off a rear hallway is a flexible rear-facing den/garden room, and a very sizeable living/dining room. There is also a shower room and separate WC, and a fourth bedroom or guest room with its own front door and French doors to the garden. This cottage has wow factor in spades – the re-fitted kitchen has understated white wall and floor units with beech block effect worktops and matching dresser – the co-ordinated dining table/bench set in the centre of the room is also included in the sale – and as well as the four-oven Aga there is also an electric cooker with extractor hood.
The Old Forge Newmill on Teviot, Hawick
In Region of £235,000 Details on page 28
Located four miles from Hawick, Newmill on Teviot is on the A7, which makes it convenient for accessing north and south – almost equidistant from Edinburgh 55 miles and Newcastle, 60 miles. The Old Forge is a unique family home that gives a nod to the past while catering to the needs of modern lifestyles.
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