Location

Lilliesleaf House is situated in the sought after village of Lilliesleaf, in the heart of the Borders. The surrounding countryside is wonderful, with rolling farmland and superb views of the Eildon Hills. The village enjoys a genuine sense of community and has an excellent primary school (within walking distance), village hall, pub, church and a golf course close by.

Nearby Melrose (7 ½ miles) is one of the most beautiful towns in the Borders and is famed for its 12th century Abbey. It offers a range of local shops, hotels, restaurants and recreational facilities. Melrose Rugby Club hosts the Melrose Sevens, which attracts teams from around the world.

The town has a good primary and secondary school and is also home to St Mary's, a private co-educational preparatory school. There are high schools at Earlston and Selkirk and further prep schools at Belhaven Hill, Longridge Towers and Mowden Hall. The Borders General Hospital is located at Melrose, off the A6091 ring road. Galashiels, 4 miles beyond, is a larger town with a good range of professional services and shops, including Asda and Tesco supermarkets.

For country sport enthusiasts there is lots on the doorstep with the Buccleuch Hunt, The Jed Forrest, the Berwickshire and Lauderdale Hunt all local. There is excellent salmon and trout fishing on the River Tweed and its tributaries (The Ale Water and Teviot to name a few) as well as both pheasant and grouse shooting on the local estates. There are also a number of golf courses in the area, as well as many walking and cycling routes in the locallity.

There is a mainline railway station at Berwick-upon-Tweed with a good service to London. Both Edinburgh and Newcastle are within comfortable driving distance and both have international airports. The Waverley line from central Edinburgh to the Borders terminates at Tweedbank making access to the city simple – just 10 miles away.

Description

Lilliesleaf House is a wonderful Georgian manse, situated on the edge of Lilliesleaf. While it benefits from being part of this active community, it has the ambience of a secluded country house, with superb uninterrupted views to the north over the Ale Water and open countryside towards the Eildon Hills. The position of the house within its walled garden lends a high degree of privacy. The house is accessed from a quiet, dead end lane leading to the Ale Water, and enjoys a very high degree of privacy thanks to the stone wall and high mature hedges all round.

The house, which is B Listed, is thought to date from 1805 and has all of the period elegance associated with Georgian properties of this era. The rooms are beautifully proportioned and there is wonderful central hallway with cloakroom and an impressive sweeping staircase. The ground floor accommodation flows well and the drawing room (with Adam fireplace) and dining room face south with views over the walled garden. There is also a comfortable sitting room with Adam fireplace, with an open fire and views to the north.

The kitchen, which has direct access into the garden through french windows, is conveniently placed adjacent to the dining room. There are a range of base and wall mounted units with appliances which include a two oven AGA and induction hob. Adjacent to the kitchen is the boot room, with WC, which opens onto the courtyard. On the other side of the kitchen lies a large utility room with clothes drying pulley, secondary cooker and ample storage cupboards.

The ground floor accommodation is well balanced by the bedrooms, arranged over first and second floors. On the first floor, the principal bedroom suite has an en suite bathroom and dressing room. There are three further double bedrooms, with washbasins and wardrobe space, a single bedroom and a bathroom. The two second floor bedrooms are charming and, while in the coomb of the ceiling, are both generous double rooms. They are serviced by a bathroom. Throughout the house there is excellent storage and hanging space.

COURTYARD

To the east of the house is a courtyard, with separate access from the lane. The focal point of this is the annexe, currently used as an artist's studio. This would however, lend itself to further ancillary residential accommodation or office space (subject to the necessary planning consent).

On the far side of the courtyard from the studio is a former cart shed which provides ample storage space, garaging, a tool shed and a separate coal store. There is one large oil storage tank in the courtyard as well as outdoor electrical sockets which allow for car charging.

GARDENS AND GROUNDS

Lilliesleaf House is approached by a private drive through wrought iron gates leading to a parking and turning area to the north of the house. The garden at the front of the house has terraced lawns and perimeter beech and holly hedging. The south facing walled garden is delightful and full of colour. It is mainly laid to lawn and has a variety of mature plants and shrubs which provide shelter and privacy. Close to the house is a Hartley Botanic conservatory (powder-coated aluminium) with flagstone floor leading onto the the terrace. This is an enjoyable space year round.