Location

Mercat House is set in the heart of the conservation area in the coastal village of Crail. It is set back from the road on a wide, tree lined street. There is a gravelled area where cars can be parked in front of the house.
Crail is an old burgh with three medieval streets. High Street and Marketgate may in the past have formed one large market stance. The market cross was the symbol of the Burgh's authority and was re-erected in 1887. The Marketgate has a number of fine townhouses dating from the 17th and 18th century. Crail Preservation Society has published a guide to the buildings of the burgh.

Crail is on the East Neuk coastline, closer to St Andrews than the other East Neuk villages of Elie, Anstruther and Pittenweem. The village offers a wide range of amenities, including a baker, butcher, greengrocer and pharmacy. There are pubs, restaurants, an art gallery, primary school and picturesque harbour. Waid Academy in Anstruther provides secondary schooling. St Leonards private primary and secondary school is in St Andrews. There are active societies, including a choir, exercise classes, folk club, film and opera nights, and annual food and arts festivals. The local church offers regular classical concerts and lectures. Within the wider area, there are many appealing destinations including the Kingsbarns Distillery, Cambo Gardens and Bowhouse which hosts creative workshops and a monthly market showcasing the local food and drink producers. Crail Golf Course is one of the oldest in the world. Kingsbarns Golf Course is 3.5 miles away. St Andrews, with its world-renowned university, is also regarded globally as the Home of Golf. It has seven golf courses run by the Links Trust, including the Old Course which is the venue for the 2027 Open Championship.
Edinburgh International Airport is 46 miles away. Leuchars railway station (15.5 miles) is on the main Aberdeen to London line, and the Levenmouth Rail Link (18 miles) re-opened in June 2024 connecting Leven to the Fife Circle line. An hourly bus runs to St Andrews from the village.

Description

Mercat House is a terraced house with an impressive frontage. Crow stepped dormer windows enhance the roofline and there are ornate carvings over the main window to the first-floor drawing room. The house has been substantially upgraded by the new owners with a new kitchen, two new bathrooms (out of three) and a raised, decked terrace outside the kitchen.

The house is approached by a path to an entrance hall which is shared with the neighbouring ground floor flat. A door and stairs lead up to the first floor.

Open plan hall / sitting room and drawing room with hardwood flooring. The sitting room has a fireplace with a cast iron fire. The drawing room has a fireplace with an ornate mantel, fitted bookshelves and a triple window.

Behind is an inner hall with half glazed doors to a dining room and stairs down to a lower landing with coat hooks and a utility room with a sink, Hotpoint washing machine and Worcester central heating boiler.

The kitchen units were renewed recently and include a Cuisinemaster Leisure Cooker with two ovens, a grill and five gas burners, a double Belfast sink, Hisense fridge freezer, Beko dishwasher. Glazed doors open onto the raised deck outside.

From the inner hall stairs with an arched window above and a bathroom off lead up to the second-floor landing. Walk in dressing room with shelves and hanging rails. Cupboard with hanging rail.

Principal bedroom with views out to sea and shelved cupboard.   Shower room with tiled shower, wash basin, WC and heated towel rail. Two further bedrooms. Bathroom with free standing bath, separate shower, WC and wash basin.

A door and stairs lead up to a third floor living room with a roof light, panelled cupboard and store room. Bedroom 4 with dormer window.

Garden

There is a delightful, fully walled garden to the north of the house. The new, raised deck outside the kitchen has fencing around to give it privacy. Stairs lead down to a lower deck with shrub beds beside. The main garden has high walls on both sides and is down to lawn with a paved path up the middle. There are further shrub beds and a brick-built garden shed.

Directions

Entering Crail from the north on the A917, turn left at the roundabout into Marketgate North. Mercat House, 15 Marketgate North, is on the left-hand side.