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BSPC FEATURE PROPERTY
Family houses don’t get much better than this Tweedsmuir is a substantial Victorian property, situated on the outskirts of Chirnside, a picturesque village just 10 miles from Berwick -upon-Tweed and the A1 and 15 miles from Duns, the county town of Berwickshire. The coast is also within easy reach, including the fishing port of Eyemouth. Built from dressed sandstone around the turn of the last century, the double-fronted house has been lovingly maintained by Bill Laidlaw’s family for the last six decades. “My father bought it in the early 1950s from his cousin, who had been there for quite a while before that, so the house has spanned several generations,” he says. “It’s a wonderful family home with a spacious layout and good sized rooms. It also has a stunning garden, extending to around half an acre, which apart from two entrances is walled and therefore ideal for keeping children in and rabbits out.” A gardener’s delight, the grounds comprise lawn interspersed by rose gardens, shrubs, borders, box hedging, a vegetable garden, and fruit trees – plum, pear and apple.
There are also a number of outbuildings, including a detached garage, potting shed, workshop, an ancient washhouse still with the original fireplace and urn, and the piece de resistance, a south-facing 4x4 metre log cabin with double-glazed windows and power that would make a stunning office or studio for a writer/dreamer /poet/painter – or a garden dining room, guest room, or sleepover den for children. Well maintained and much loved by the Laidlaw family over two generations the house is in move-in condition throughout, having been upgraded in recent years at which point the kitchen and bathroom were re-fitted.
However, its character and original features remain uncompromised and include beautiful wood-panelled bay windows, vestibule with original tiled floor and decorative glass, fireplaces, an attractive arched window on the half landing and wash-hand basins in all four bedrooms. The ground floor layout includes an L-shaped reception hall, large sitting room and opposite, a similarly spacious dining room (both with front-facing bay windows), Family room/study, large modern dining kitchen with access to the garden, utility (with separate shelved pantry), shower room and cloakroom.