Location

Melfort is situated within a prestigious residential area in West Ferry which Charles McKean and David Walker in Dundee, An Illustrated Architectural Guide (Pillans and Wilson Ltd, 1984) describe as "once one of the richest suburbs in Europe, it was here, and to the slopes above Broughty Ferry, that the merchant princes and jute barons of Dundee came to construct their palatial mansions. This mid to late Victorian suburb . . . remains private on its plateau high above the shore: few main roads, minor ones framed by stone walls and mature trees."

Melfort is within easy reach of the excellent local amenities of Broughty Ferry, including primary and secondary schooling, an ample choice of shopping facilities, supermarkets, library, harbour and the Royal Tay Yacht Club. Eastern Primary and Grove Academy are within walking distance. Broughty Ferry is only a short distance from Dundee city centre, which offers all the facilities expected of a major city. Private schooling is available at Dundee High School, with the playing fields at Maryfield being close by. There are railway stations at Broughty Ferry and Dundee with services north and south, including a sleeper to London. Dundee Airport has flights to London City.   The A90 dual carriageway offers easy access to Aberdeen and to Perth and on south to Edinburgh and Glasgow. Dundee is an established centre of excellence in education and life sciences, and has renowned cultural facilities, including the V&A museum.

Away from the city, the range of outdoor pursuits is impressive. Over the River Tay is St Andrews, home of golf, while the championship course at Carnoustie is only a few miles up the coast.

Description

Melfort must be one of the most stunning houses in Broughty Ferry. Dating from1927 it was designed by George Morton, a well known local architect, for himself. It is believed that his original family business imported OVD rum. Melfort was built in a later Arts & Crafts style. While the house has been thoroughly modernised, it still retains much of its original character and style. An elegant, detached house, harled with a slate roof, it sits well within its own enclosed gardens.

Acquired in 2018, the house has continued to benefit from improvements including a fabulous games room and one of the main bedrooms has been enlarged. In addition the fabulous kitchen has been refurbished, wooden flooring has been laid in a number of the rooms, heating has been upgraded, and the house has been redecorated internally. Externally new electric gates have been fitted, and the garden has been landscaped including additional paving, a pond and further plantings. An outside office / garden room has been added. The previous owners made considerable improvements, including replacement double glazed windows in keeping with the age and style of the house, refurbishing the principal en suite and bathroom, and replacing the boiler.

Melfort is beautifully presented and period finishings include original wood panelling, a pitch pine staircase, foliate pattern plaster ceiling decoration, door furniture, many original radiators and fireplaces. All in all, the layout and presentation of the house is ideal for both modern family living and for entertaining. There are cornices in the principal rooms and wooden floors in the reception rooms, two main bedrooms, kitchen and games room, while the breakfast room has both wooden and Amtico flooring.

Electric gates open on to gravelled parking areas. Paving leads to wooden front doors which open to a panelled vestibule with an inner glazed and leaded door to an elegant hall. This links all the principal downstairs rooms, has a staircase to the first floor, an understair cupboard and a tiled cloakroom with WC and washbasin. The stunning and elegant drawing room has a bay window, French doors to the garden, and a fireplace with wooden mantel. The cosy sitting room has another bay window, a picture rail, brick fireplace with overmantel housing an AGA wood burning stove, and shelved display units. The dining room, another impressive room, has a bay window along with a fireplace housing an Esse stove with wooden overmantel. The very impressive, bespoke and fully fitted kitchen has wall and floor units, display cupboards, quartz worktops, double Rangemaster porcelain sink, pantry unit, breakfast bar, central island unit, door to the garden and ample space for informal dining / seating. Appliances include a Samsung fridge freezer with water and ice dispenser, two oven AGA, dishwasher, wine cooler and a wall mounted LG TV. Beyond is the back hall / breakfast room, currently themed as an American diner, and has a door to the garden. Off this is a utility room with fitted units, AEG dryer, Indesit and Bosch washing machines, porcelain sink and two Worcester wall mounted boilers. A rear lobby has a back door and a walk in shelved larder with SMEG freezer. The splendid games room has doors to the garden, a Russell Hobbs fridge freezer with water dispenser and a wall mounted LG TV.

An elegant wooden staircase has panelling, a leaded window, and an ornate plaster ceiling. On the first floor are five bedrooms, two are currently used as dressing rooms and one an upstairs reading room. The principal bedroom has a stunning en suite with a walk in shower, twin washbasins, WC and bidet. Bedroom two, currently used as a dressing room, has fitted hanging and shelved units. Bedroom three is a stunning room overlooking the garden with a wall mounted LG TV. Bedroom four is currently used as an upstairs reading room, whilst bedroom five is used as another dressing room, again with fitted hanging and shelved units. The tiled family bathroom has a bath, washbasin and WC. A staircase with understair cupboard, leads to the second floor with bedrooms six and seven, a store room and a partially tiled bathroom with a spa bath, shower cubicle, washbasin and WC.

The lovely garden, mainly to the front and side of the house, is enclosed by walls, has mature trees and rhododendrons providing privacy, a summer house, paved seating areas and a wooden garden shed. To the front are lawns, a fish pond with a bridge over and water feature. To the side is an office / garden room which is double glazed with electric heating, a large paved area, ideal for seating and entertaining, and a screened bin storage area with a further wooden garden shed.

Directions

If coming on the A90 from Perth, follow signs for Dundee on to the A85 passing Dundee Airport. From Dundee city centre take the A92, signposted Arbroath on to Dock Street and East Dock Street, and then continue on Broughty Ferry Road (A930) signposted Broughty Ferry. At the roundabout take the second turning on to Craigie Place and then turn right on to Craigie Drive. Continue for 1.3 miles, and on to Strathern Road and the turning into Duntrune Terrace will be seen on the left at the post box. The gates into Melfort are immediately on the right.

If coming from the A92 (Arbroath to Dundee road) turn at the Claypotts junction, opposite Sainsbury's on to Broughty Ferry Road (B978), signposted Broughty Ferry. Then take the second turning on the right into Duntrune Terrace. The gates into Melfort will be seen on the left before reaching the junction with Strathern Road.

Alternatively from the Kingsway (A972 ring road) around Dundee follow signs for Arbroath, and then take the A92 signposted for Arbroath and Carnoustie. After 0.7 miles turn right on to Fairfield Road and then turn left into Strathern Road. Continue for 0.4 miles, and at the post box turn left into Duntrune Terrace.