OLD PURVES HALL NR GREENLAW

OLD PURVES HALLNr Greenlaw, Berwickshire TD10 6UJ

A rare opportunity to acquire a beautifully located and quite unique historic country home; once a peel tower dating back in part to the 1600’s retaining a number of period elements from the last three hundred years. The layout over three floors creates a superb level of flexible accommodation, with enormous scope for the buyer to upgrade, reconfigure and remodel to their own particular requirements. The property benefits from just over 1.4 acres of land including a walled garden and woodland with potential for stables and paddock. Accommodation Comprises:Ground floor: Hallway, Living Room, Kitchen, Garden/Potential Utility Room

First floor: Dining Room connecting to Study/Library, Drawing Room, Bedroom, Bathroom

Second floor: Sitting Room with Kitchen off, Second Sitting Room, Master Bedroom and Second Bedroom, Bathroom Outside: In all just over 1.4 acres including a garage, gravelled parking area, feature well, walled garden, woodland, timber building/possible stable block and scope for paddock.

EPC rating = E

Edinburgh 42 miles Earlston 14 miles Duns 10.5 miles Berwick Upon Tweed 22 miles(All distances are approximate)

Situation:Berwickshire is a popular county for those looking for a wonderful lifestyle opportunity, yet who require ease of access to major routes. With miles of unspoilt countryside, many country walks, fishing, shooting and numerous country pursuits as well as championship standard golf courses and so much more, this is a region which simply abounds with areas of outstanding natural beauty. To the east lies its Heritage Coastline with rugged shorelines, unspoilt beaches and areas of historical interest such as Coldingham Bay, Bamburgh Castle and Berwick itself with its historic Elizabethan walls.

The property is located around three miles outside the small Borders town of Greenlaw, which provides a variety of facilities catering for day to day needs and enjoys easy access to Earlston, Duns and Edinburgh. Also nearby lies the pretty market town of Duns, around 10 miles distant. Providing good local amenities, Duns has a selection of banks, restaurants and shops as well as a range of sports clubs. The property is around 22miles from Berwick-upon-Tweed, England’s most northerly market town, which offers a wide range of amenities including supermarkets, a selection of national shops, numerous sports facilities and sports clubs, whilst also offering excellent commuting opportunities with a mainline railway station that connects in circa 45 minutes to both Edinburgh and Newcastle and London in circa 3.5 hours.

Description:Now a private ‘B’ Listed house, Old Purves Hall was once a peel tower; a form of strong, fortified dwelling. Probably first built in the sixteenth century, the building has had several alterations and additions over the years, but retains a number of 17th century characteristics, including crowstepped gables and the door and window surrounds. The basic plan of the tower is rectangular, with a more recent addition to the rear, believed to have been constructed in the 1700’s. Within the house, virtually every room has window shutters and includes a working fireplace of some type, the only one of which that has been closed off located within the master bedroom, which boasts period wall panelling, as does the Drawing Room, believed to be original.

An original door opens to the lower Reception Hall, which gives access to the entire house. In the first section, on the right, lies a magnificent multi purpose public room, perfect for day to day living and well located near to the kitchen, ideal for parties and entertaining. This room abounds with character, with the low ceilings featuring beautiful hand painting between the beams and two leadlight windows along with a leadlight. The magnificent restored inglenook fireplace, complete with seat and log store, creates a wonderful focal point and in addition there is a second fireplace to the opposite end of the room, near to a concealed window. Lying across the hall is the slightly sunken Kitchen, which is amply large enough to accommodate a table for breakfasting or casual dining and has marvellous potential for refurbishment. It includes features such as a double Belfast sink, exposed ceiling beams and a stone wall incorporating a log store and fireplace recess, which is currently fitted with a wood burning stove but could perfectly house a range. A door from the kitchen opens to a useful Garden Room, boasting a partly curved wall and ideally suited as a garden workshop or alteration into a laundry/utility room. At the farmost end of the hall a jail door gives a quirky feature and leads through to the original section of the building which has a curved wall and a leadlight window at the base of the dog leg staircase, originally a spiral staircase.

At first floor level the landing gives access to the right to two rooms, one of which has most recently been adopted for use as a formal dining room, with interconnecting double doors to the second room; a wonderful library cum study. The dining room has a beautiful fireplace fitted with a cast iron stove and the leadlight shuttered windows look to trees. The library with its curved wall is a delightful room; looking out on to the walled garden from a shuttered Venetian window and including a fireplace with open fire. In the middle of the landing there is a bathroom, which does require full refurbishment, and to the far end lie two further rooms, one creating a double bedroom, the other a charming wood panelled Drawing Room, which includes a door leading out to a small lobby in turn to a spiral exterior staircase. Additionally it has two astragalled windows, plaster cornicing and a beautiful fireplace with dog grate fire.

The staircase then continues up to the topmost floor, which has a lockable door closing off the remaining four rooms and bathroom, giving the sense of almost a self contained unit, ideal for teens or as a guest suite, particularly as it has a little kitchen located off one of the rooms set to the right, which is used now as a sitting room with two astragalled windows and a tiled fireplace with open fire. The kitchen is reached via a sliding door and includes a Belfast sink, a range of units and shelving. This space could suit very well for alteration into an en-suite. Next to that is a lovely further sitting room or bedroom, with curved wall, open fire and outlooks to the walled garden. Serving the topmost accommodation and set in the centre of the landing is a bathroom, which includes a cast iron bath, but does requires updating. The two main bedrooms lie to the left. The master currently houses a four poster bed and it has wood lined and painted walls, two astragalled shuttered windows to the front and one to the side and a closed off fireplace. The second bedroom is a really delightful double, with dual aspect windows, one to the side the other looking to woodland, and it has a cast iron fireplace giving a pretty feature.

Outside:There is a gravelled parking area large enough for several cars immediately to the front. Secure parking is catered for by a single timber garage. Near to the front door there is a pretty feature well and arboured sitting area, beyond which a tree lined boulevard leads to the mature grounds, extending in an L-Shape behind the Walled Garden, which enjoys a good degree of sun and privacy. There is also a section of woodland beyond which is a timber building which could form the basis of a field shelter or stabling and an area of ground which once fenced could form a paddock. The grounds extend to just over 1.4 acres in total.

Satellite Navigation:For those with the use of Satellite Navigation the postcode for this property is TD10 6UJ. Upon entering the driveway for Purves Hall, keep to the left where the drive splits and continue along, driving past the bungalow set on the left until you come to Old Purves Hall.

GENERAL REMARKS:

Fixtures and Fittings:Only items specifically mentioned in the particulars of sale are included.

Services:Mains water. Private drainage. Electricity. Partial oil fired heating plus storage radiators.

Local Authority:Scottish Borders Council, Council Headquarters, Newtown St Boswells, MelroseTD6 0SA Tel: 01835 824 000.

Outgoings:Council Tax Band E

Internet Web Site:This property and other properties being marketed by Rettie & Co can be viewed on our website at www.rettie.co.uk as well as our affiliated websites at www.onthemarket.com, www.thelondonoffice.co.uk and www.rightmove.co.uk.

Servitude Rights, Burdens & Wayleaves:The property is sold subject to and with the benefit of all servitude rights, burdens, reservations and wayleaves including rights of access and rights of way, whether public or private, light, support, drainage, water and wayleaves for masts, pylons, stays, cable, drains and water, gas and other pipes whether contained in the title deeds or informally constituted and whether or not referred to above.

Important Notice:Rettie & Co, their clients and any joint agents give notice that:1. They are not authorised to make or give any representations or warranties in relation to the property either in writing or by word of mouth. Any information given is entirely without responsibility on the part of the agents or the sellers. These particulars do not form part of any offer or contract and must not be relied upon as statements or representations of fact.

2. Any areas, measurements or distances are approximate. The text, photographs and plans are for guidance only and are not necessarily comprehensive and it should not be assumed that the property remains as photographed. Any error, omission or mis-statement shall not annul the sale, or entitle any party to compensation or recourse to action at law. It should not be assumed that the property has all necessary planning, building regulation or other consents, including for its current use. Rettie & Co. have not tested any services, equipment or facilities. Purchasers must satisfy themselves by inspection or otherwise and ought to seek their own professional advice.

3. All descriptions or references to condition are given in good faith only. Whilst every endeavour is made to ensure accuracy, please check with us on any points of especial importance to you, especially if intending to travel some distance. No responsibility can be accepted for expenses incurred in inspecting properties which have been sold or withdrawn.

Particulars prepared July 2014

1 Abbey Street, Melrose TD6 9PX Tel: 01896 824 070

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