Location

Laverockbank Road is located in the Trinity district of Edinburgh with a fine array of stone built family houses.

Located approximately two miles north of the city centre this is a high amenity area with a thriving community with active churches, tennis and bowling clubs, private park, a wide selection of local shops and major supermarkets.

The area is particularly well served from an educational point of view with a choice of nurseries, Wardie Primary School and Trinity Academy as well as the Edinburgh Academy, Fettes College, George Heriots, Erskine Stuart's Melville Schools and St George's School for Girls.

There are excellent transport links with a local bus service (number 23) providing a direct route to the city centre, an extensive network of cycle paths and convenient road access westwards to the City Bypass, Edinburgh Business Park, Edinburgh Airport and beyond to the Central Scotland Motorway Network.

Local amenities include sailing at Granton and the David Lloyd Leisure Centre at Western Harbour, while the delightful and picturesque Starbank Park is situated opposite and the Starbank Inn is less than 50 metres away at the bottom of the road.

Description

Strathavon Lodge is a wonderful and sizable detached Georgian family home, set in exceptionally private and mature grounds extending to around 0.85 acres. The property offers exceptionally spacious, bright and flexible accommodation arranged over three principal floors with elegantly proportioned reception rooms on both ground and lower ground floors complemented by up to 6 generous bedrooms making this a superb family home. With aspects to the north, south, east and west, the property benefits from plenty of natural light throughout the day and successfully retains much of its period charm with a variety of features, including the decorative cornicing and plaster work, impressive mantelpieces and charming stone stair.

The front door opens to a welcoming vestibule and on into the reception hall from where the principal family living and reception rooms are located and the stair both rises and falls to the upper and lower levels. To the front of the house are the morning room and dining kitchen situated to either side of the hall. Both rooms face south and look over the immaculate front garden while to the rear of the property are the fine drawing and dining rooms which overlook the rear part of the garden. Both of these rooms have delightful plaster work and the drawing room has a marble mantelpiece with a working fireplace. There is a pantry off the dining room, and there is also a cloakroom with WC on the ground floor.

The stair rises to the first floor where the main bedroom accommodation is accessed from a broad landing. The principal bedroom is generous in proportion and has extensive built in wardrobes, as well as a recently refitted and luxurious en suite shower room. From here there are views to the north and the Firth of Forth. There are three further generous double bedrooms on this floor, one of which has an en suite shower room and the other two share the family bathroom. A further staircase rises to the turret room, from where there are the most spectacular views to the north, east and west over the Firth of Forth to Fife and beyond.

At lower ground floor level there is a further fifth bedroom which is served by a separate shower room. In addition, there is a study which could be used as a sixth bedroom if required and there is also a playroom/gym with a sizable utility room off. On this floor there is also very good storage space.

The grounds of Strathavon Lodge are quite spectacular. They are accessed via electric iron gates which open to the driveway which winds through the south facing front garden, leading to the front of the house and beyond to a generous parking area in front of the double Coach House garage. There was previously planning permission to convert the garaging into further accommodation, however this has now lapsed. In addition, there is a former wash house which currently has no roof but could be converted into further usable accommodation if required, subject to the necessary consents. The gardens to the south of the house are spectacular and have a wide variety of mature trees, shrubs and plants which provide exceptional colour and privacy throughout the year. To the rear of the house is a further large flat section of lawn which is surrounded by a number of mature trees. A gated path leads from the eastern boundary and provides pedestrian access to the house. To the western side of the house is an extensive terrace with an ornamental pond. This is a wonderful place to sit out and enjoy the afternoon and evening sunshine. In total, the grounds extend to around 0.85 acres and are set within a high stone wall, increasing the privacy and exclusivity of this charming property.


History
Originally dating from around 1815, the house was extended around 1840. Strathavon Lodge (known then as Viewbank) was the rural retreat of Sir James Young Simpson (the renowned anaesthetist whose town residence and medical practice were at 52 Queen Street), who recommended Trinity for the beneficial effects of sea and country air, promoting the development of the area. It is believed that Simpson liked to retire to Trinity for 'tea, an egg and a sunset' after a busy day in Edinburgh. The sunken area of grass to the north of the house is said to have been his bowling green. The house is believed to have been visited by Hans Christian Andersen and William Gladstone.