7 bedroom detached house

Georgian family house with hallway and 3 reception rooms • main bedroom suite with dressing room and bathroom • 5 further bedrooms • 2 further bathrooms • kitchen/breakfast room • laundry/utility room • 2 downstairs wc's • boot room

Independent studio block • garage block

Beautifully kept garden and grounds

c. 4,291 sq ft

In all about 0.73 acres

Something of a gem, Lilliesleaf House is positioned in a picturesque rural location, approximately 7 miles south of the popular Borders town of Melrose. It is a very pretty, Category B listed former manse (rectory), situated on the edge of Lilliesleaf Village, surrounded on the most part by agricultural land, and a short distance from the charming village kirk it used to serve. Whilst being part of the village, Lilliesleaf House is very much a country house, with superb uninterrupted views to the north over the Ale Water Valley and open countryside towards the Eildon Hills. The position of the house within its walled garden ensures its privacy.

The house dates from 1821 and has all the period elegance associated with Georgian properties of this era and it retains all of its period features. From the front door and hall an elegant, suspended Georgian staircase sweeps up to the floors above and the drawing room has an Adam fireplace. The ground floor accommodation flows well. Both the drawing room and dining room look south over the walled garden. There is also a comfortable sitting room, with an open fire. The kitchen, which is next door to the dining room and has direct access into the garden, also gives access to the conservatory. The kitchen has a two oven aga, access to the back hall and larder, and has a large utility room with Belfast sinks and ample storage space. The ground floor accommodation is complimented by the bedrooms. The main bedroom suite has its own bathroom and dressing room stop. There are three further double bedrooms, with basins and ample wardrobe space, on the first floor together with a single bedroom and a family bathroom. There are two more double bedrooms and a bathroom on the second floor.

Lying to the east, is an attractive pink gravel courtyard with access from the back door. It has its own gates on to the public road, flagstone steps up to the front drive and mature espaliered Bramley/Russet apple trees along its walls. At its heart, and the focus of the courtyard, is a renovated outbuilding currently divided into two rooms and used as artists' studios. They would, subject to obtaining the necessary consents, lend themselves to conversion to secondary, residential accommodation (a potential income stream) and/or office space.

Garden and Grounds
Around Lilliesleaf House is the most beautiful, well-stocked garden, surrounding a central Croquet lawn, giving year-round Interest. It is full of colourful flowers, hardy plants, trees and high hedges, providing privacy/protection. Most of the garden lies to the south of the house, itself framed to the north by a Lime and Beech tree. It looks out on to the Croquet lawn, flanked on both sides by wooden arches supporting David Austen roses and Norfolk sourced clematis, edged with purple Nepeta and pink Geraniums. A twelve-foot pink stone wall, running along the eastern-most lawn, supports espaliered apple trees and climbing roses, at the foot of which is a formal garden. The side lawn is formally planted with golden tipped upright yews and upright Japanese cherries, and a flowering chestnut in the centre. Leading from the south and east facing kitchen are two sets of French windows, opening on to the grey Indian sandstone terrace, where many pots and planters extend the flowering season of the garden with tulips, dahlias, lavender etc. The east side of this patio/terrace is protected by a bespoke Hartley Botanic Conservatory, set against the garden wall.

Lilliesleaf House is situated in the heart of the Scottish Borders. It is located in magnificent scenery 7 miles south of Melrose in the Ale Water valley on the eastern edge of the popular village of Lilliesleaf. Every day amenities can be found in Melrose, with a wider range of facilities available in Edinburgh and Galashiels (11 miles). Melrose is an attractive and accessible small town in the centre of one of the best residential areas of the Scottish Borders, located between the River Tweed and the Eildon hills. The town and surrounding countryside developed around the former Abbey (now a picturesque ruin) and were made famous by Sir Walter Scott who lived nearby at Abbotsford. There are good schools in Melrose, namely St Mary's Preparatory School for boys and girls and an excellent primary school. Lilliesleaf also has a very good primary school; Selkirk's high school (6 miles) provides state secondary education. Lilliesleaf enjoys a genuine sense of community. In addition to the primary school the village has a well-supported kirk, village hall, a popular pub (at the other end of the village) and a twelve-hole golf course.

Melrose has some first-class shops, a supermarket, hotels, restaurants and cafes, and The Borders General Hospital is nearby. The town also has a thriving rugby club (with its new 3G pitch – widely used by the community) where the world-famous Melrose Sevens are held every spring. It also has its own tennis courts and golf course. Melrose plays host every June to the hugely successful Borders Book Festival and other cultural events and is a popular destination for tourists. Not surprisingly therefore, a survey carried out by The Sunday Times (published in March 2018 – followed by an even more recent survey) found that in and around Melrose is the best place to live in Scotland. St Boswells (5 miles) also has a good range of local services and features Main Street Trading (an award-winning book shop, café and delicatessen) and a fishing tackle shop. The Borders has a wealth of sporting and recreational opportunities and is renowned for its beautiful countryside. Lilliesleaf House is an ideal base for those who enjoy fishing on the Tweed and its tributaries (including the Ale), walking (there are wonderful walks and beauty spots along the banks of the Ale), cycling, golf and riding (grazing is available locally to rent).

Lilliesleaf House is very accessible from the north and south. Edinburgh, lying 43 miles to the north, has an international airport and an intercity rail service, while Berwick upon Tweed, 38 miles to the east, has a main line station linking Edinburgh and London (approximately 3 hours 40 minutes). The Waverley line from central Edinburgh to the Borders terminates at Tweedbank – journey time one hour.

Edinburgh 43 miles, Melrose 7 miles, Berwick-upon-Tweed 38 miles, Waverley Line 9 miles (Distances approximate)