THE BSPC PROPERTY GUIDE / FEATURE PROPERTY
Page 15
A pretty sandstone detached cottage in Bonchester Bridge located in an attractive, secluded setting
Situated at the top of Blacklee Brae, this pretty red sandstone detached cottage is purported to have been built around 1880 as the school and adjoining schoolhouse for Wolflee Estate. Although no records exist to this effect, it would perhaps explain why the two-storey cottage occupies such a sizable three-quarter-acre site – now a very secluded, peaceful and productive garden with an abundance of mature shrubs, fruit bushes, large vegetable plot, and several outbuildings – a garage, stable, shed and henhouse with run, all of which would benefit from upgrading. The school and schoolhouse had already been converted to residential use and upgraded when the present owner bought the property in 1997. Inside, the layout includes a 17ft entrance hall, front-facing sitting room (currently a fourth bedroom), shower room, 24ft dining kitchen with French doors to the garden, large utility with a tiled floor and stable door to the garden, 28ft living room with a stone feature fireplace and wood-burning stove and glass-panelled door leading into an adjoining garden/sun room. Upstairs is very sizable 25ft master bedroom with fitted wardrobes and shelving, two further double bedrooms, and family bathroom. All the upstairs bedrooms have lovely views of the gardens and surroundings countryside.
The current owner has undertaken further upgrading and in recent years the cottage has been re-roofed, fully insulated, and replacement double-glazed windows installed throughout – all of which ensure Blackcleuch is as energy efficient as possible. What is also nice is that the house has all the conveniences demanded by modern living but without compromising its traditional character and features, which include natural wood floors, doors and skirting, an ornate stained glass window in the hall, deep display sills, decorative plasterwork, and exposed ceiling beams. Kitchens sell more houses than any other room and this one is particularly appealing, with oak base and wall units, a Raeburn with tiled splashback (the Raeburn also powers the central heating), walk-in fully shelved larder with power and lighting and an unexpectedly large 16ft utility with under-floor heating, similarly fitted with oak units, display units, integrated hob, double oven and grill. The utility is also plumbed for a washing machine. With a front-facing window on either side, the stone fireplace and wood-burner is the focal point in the living room, which also houses the staircase.
Off this room is a delightful extra – a pretty garden room that has windows on three sides, ceiling beams and solid wood flooring. This property’s unique selling point is undoubtedly the mature gardens, which are stunning. Mainly comprising lawn, there are established flower beds, shrubs, rockery plants, rhododendrons, azaleas, clematis, apple and plum trees, raspberries, blackcurrents, redcurrents, gooseberries, rhubarb, as well as a large vegetable kitchen garden, gravelled driveway and parking area at the rear of the cottage.
Blackcleuch Cottage Blacklee Brae, Bonchester Bridge, TD9 9TD Offers Around £350,000 Details on page 13
And at the top of the front garden there’s a timber garage, stone-built shed, and summerhouse. Blackcleugh Cottage is south facing and may be suitable for solar panels, which could make the property even more energy efficient. But as it is this is an extremely desirable home in an outstanding setting on the edge of Bonchester Bridge, within easy reach of both Jedburgh and Hawick.