The Lodge, East High Street, Lauder

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An exceptional three-storey townhouse in Lauder that spans the centuries in style

The Lodge is an impressive C-listed Victorian townhouse dating from around 1850 - formerly home to the factor of Thirlestane Castle. Fast forward 166 years or thereabouts and it’s currently home to the Middlemiss family, who have made their mark with modifications and significant upgrading along the way.

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Retaining all of its original character and features - the most notable examples being ornate plasterwork, stripped and sanded floors, internal doors and finishes including working window shutters – this property’s combination of flexible accommodation and modern fixtures and fittings designed to meet the needs of 21st century family lifestyles, owes much to the commitment, investment and dedication to detail given

by Michael Middlemiss over the last 18 years.

The Lodge, East High Street, Lauder

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The Lodge, East High Street, Lauder

“There are very few classic townhouses in Lauder,” says Michael. “This one, which is on the Lauder Town Trail, is also notable for its history and quirky one-off features.” Quirky sums up this property’s design; from the front it appears to be a traditional one-and-a-half-storey cottage – but viewed from the west-facing garden entrance, it is an imposing mansion house. The property also includes a three bedroomed apartment, which is available to buy by separate negotiation.

Everything about this property says ‘quality’, from the standard of workmanship – all done by local tradesmen – to the exceptional specification throughout.

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The Middlemiss family has turned what was a street level garage into an office, accessed by stairs down from the now open-plan kitchen/breakfast room – there is also a substantial basement store on the same level as the office. The timber-framed replacement sash and case windows are double-glazed, the kitchen was refitted and the layout now includes a ground floor shower room and en suite shower room and dressing area for the master bedroom on the first floor.

The Lodge is a sizeable home over three levels, and like most Victorian properties, it makes a statement right from the start with a large and impressive reception hall.

Carpeted and decorated in plain neutral shades, the emphasis here is rightly on the architectural details and beautiful pitch pine staircase and woodwork.

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“There are very few classic townhouses in Lauder,” says Michael.

“This one, which is on the Lauder Town Trail, is also notable for its Off the hall, the sitting room and dining room have been knocked through to create a particularly spacious 30ft semi open-plan area that is ideal for entertaining. Linking the two areas is an original sanded floor and large sash and case windows with stripped pine surrounds and panelled shutters. The living room also has a white marble fireplace and inset Living Flame gas fire.

On the opposite side of the hall, what was originally another public room and adjoining kitchen has been made into what every family now wants – an exceedingly spacious open-plan dining kitchen, the latter fitted on three sides with cream units, butcher’s block-style worktops and a full range of appliances, including a Rangemaster cooker (housed in a tiled recess complete with over-mantel), microwave and a central island with a marble worktop (what every pastry chef wants) incorporating a dishwasher and additional storage.

A stone-tiled floor and neutral colour palette add a contemporary finish to the room that is the main focus for everyday living.

history and quirky one -off features.”

Off the rear hall is a shower room, fifth bedroom and adjoining games room/sixth bedroom. Upstairs, are four double bedrooms and a magnificent main bathroom with an oval Jacuzzi bath, twin washbasins and shower cabinet in a space the size of an average bedroom.

The principal bedroom has a dressing room with fitted storage plus en suite shower room – and storage is abundant throughout the house, including the bedrooms.

Completing what is a very desirable family home is off-street parking for up to three cars, and attractive and well-maintained gardens with paved paths, lawns, shrubs and trees.

Located on the main A68 road just 20 miles from the Edinburgh bypass, Lauder is a popular market town with a wide range of amenities and attractions, including nearby Thirlstane Castle, leisure centre, specialist shops, restaurants, primary school (catchment for Earlston High School, seven miles away), health centre and sports pavilion. Edinburgh commuters also have the option of catching a train from the Borders Railway station in the nearby village of Stow.

Historical and quirky features

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