Most attractive and well presented former school master’s house.

Description

The School House is a most attractive house, situated on the edge of the picturesque and very convenient village of Auchenblae. The house is believed to date from the 1850s and, as the name suggests, was built as the local school master’s house; it was used as such until the 1970s. It continued under council ownership until 2002 when it was sold to the sellers. As such this is only the second time that the house has been on the market. It is a fine period house, stone built with a slate roof, retaining much of its period character with features such as cornicings in the original part and panelled doors. Shortly after acquiring the house the owners set about an ambitious programme of renovation and extending to the rear. The works were substantial and included overhauling the roof and the addition of new gutters and downpipes. Internally the walls were stripped back and insulated, and the house was rewired and replumbed. Panelled doors and skirtings were refurbished. The extension has a stone and harl finish and a slate roof, so is very much in keeping with the original. As such, it is a house that marries the best of the old and new, with well presented reception rooms to the front, together with a fabulous open plan living room and kitchen to the rear. Beyond this is a useful playroom or office, which also has its own entrance. Completing the downstairs accommodation is a utility room and a WC. Upstairs are five bedrooms, one currently used as a home office, and one with an en suite, along with a family bathroom and a shower room. When the house was refurbished a new central heating system was installed and the property was fully double glazed. In 2012 a new garage with a garden store and log store was built.

Stone gate piers with a sliding gate open on to a gravelled drive leading up past the garage to parking and turning areas at the front and side of the house. A wooden entrance door with a partially glazed and etched leaded window opens to a hallway with a staircase to the first floor and a useful understair cupboard. To one side is an impressive sitting room with an open fireplace with York stone surround and mantel, window shutters and two wall lights. Opposite is the dining room which also has window shutters. There is a useful downstairs WC with circular washbasin and tiled floor. The spacious open plan kitchen / living area has a wall mounted Sony Bravia TV and French doors to the side. The fully fitted and bespoke German kitchen has units with granite worktops and a breakfast bar. Fitted NEFF appliances include an induction hob with extractor, mid height dishwasher, steam oven, microwave, double oven and a fridge. Off this is a rear lobby with storage cupboards and a back door. The utility room has fitted units, sink, plumbing for a washing machine, Daewoo fridge freezer with water and ice dispenser, Beko freezer, clothes pulley and Grant oil fired boiler. The office / playroom has its own external entrance door.

The staircase leads up to the first floor landing where there are built in cupboards and a hatch with attic ladder to floored roof space. Bedroom one is double aspect with an en suite shower room with wet walling, washbasin with vanity unit and WC. Bedroom two also looks out to the front, while the family bathroom has a corner spa bath, shower cubicle, washbasin and WC. Bedroom three is currently used as an office, while bedroom four is double aspect and has fitted wardrobes. The shower room has a washbasin with vanity unit, WC and tiled floor. Bedroom five is another double aspect room.

The enclosed garden includes a lawn, shrub borders and many fine trees including a good copper beech. There is a wooded area with a tree house, while at the back is a bank with further shrubs. Adjacent to the entrance is a wooden double garage with box profile roof, two automatic roller doors, water, power and light, concrete floor. There is a workshop area to the rear. To the side is an attached garden store, again with an automatic roller door,
which could be used as a further garage. There is a covered log store.

Location

The School House is situated on the edge of the attractive village of Auchenblae to the south of Stonehaven. To the south is the Howe of the Mearns which is sheltered from the coast by the Hill of Garvock. Inland lie the glens, forming the foothills of the Grampian Mountains. Auchenblae is an active village which has a primary school, village shop and a GP surgery. In addition Auchenblae Den has lots of outdoor activities including a football pitch, tennis courts, cycle and pump track and a bowling green. There is also a well known nine hole golf course. Laurencekirk provides shopping and local services, together with primary and secondary schooling at the new Mearns Community Campus, along with leisure facilities. There is also secondary schooling at Mackie Academy in Stonehaven.

Both Montrose and Stonehaven provide more extensive shopping and facilities and are easily reached, while both Dundee and Aberdeen provide all that is expected of major cities. Lathallan at Johnshaven is a well known local private school, with a bus from Laurencekirk. Pupils for schools in Aberdeen can catch a train in Laurencekirk. As well as Laurencekirk there are railway stations at Stonehaven and Montrose offering east coast mainline services to Aberdeen and the south. Aberdeen Airport provides a range of domestic and European flights, including to London, and in addition there are services from Dundee to London. Journey times to Aberdeen and its airport have been reduced by the Western Peripheral Route.

This part of Scotland is well known for its wide range of outdoor pursuits. Other golf courses in the area include Edzell and Montrose. Fishing is available locally while Deeside is easily accessible over the scenic Cairn o’Mount road (B974). Nearby beaches are found at Montrose and St Cyrus, which is a nature reserve. The nearby glens offer some of the finest hill walking in eastern Scotland. There are also pleasant walks in nearby Drumtochty Glen and woods.

Square Footage: 2,712 sq ft


Acreage: 0.54 Acres

Directions

From the south on the A90 dual carriageway, some 2 miles north of Laurencekirk, turn left signposted Auchenblae. Continue for 1.8 miles and at the crossroads with the B966 proceed straight over, signposted Auchenblae. Proceed for 0.8 miles, and on entering the village turn left, signposted Cemetery. Continue up the hill and The School House will be seen on the right after the bend, and just after the school.

From the north on the A90 take the turning at Fordoun signposted Fordoun and Auchenblae, some 9 miles south of Stonehaven. In Fordoun turn left signposted Auchenblae. After 1.8 miles turn left on to the B966 signposted Fettercairn. Continue for 0.5 miles and then turn right signposted Auchenblae and proceed as above.