Take-Away Food Premises, 28 Harbour Road, Eyemouth, TD14

Auld Hoose is a true Borders gem, located in the historic village of Newstead and reputedly the oldest continually inhabited village in Scotland, dating back to Roman times and the nearby settlement of Trimontium. Classic in every sense, the property does not disappoint, with its striking exterior white painted walls with black banded windows and private walled gardens with overlooking two storey bay extension. The house traces its roots back to the 18th Century and was originally two houses with an external staircase to front later combined and developed with the addition of the present day oriel window to front and bay extension to take advantage of the outlook to the rear. Other striking features include the original timber beams revealed on raising the kitchen ceiling, the original stone inglenook with a new oak beam mantle and housing a range cooker and irregular window features reflecting the age and history of the building. The present owners have added their own touches with traditional décor and added features including bespoke detailing to the window pelmets and internal timber finishes throughout making good use of attractive oak and cherry with an eye for detail and preserving character.

Inhabited since Roman times, Newstead lies on the southern bank of the Tweed a few miles downstream from Melrose and below the three hills of the Eildons, perhaps the Borders most famous landmark. The village itself gained a reputation for fine quality traditional buildings. Old Newstead has links with stone masons employed in the rebuilding of Melrose Abbey following its destruction by the English in 1322 and historically was the site of the very first Masonic Movement in Scotland with recorded Minutes dating from 1674. That link can still be seen today in the many older properties including features such as the famous sundials of Newstead including Auld Hoose with the sundial visible below the oriel window to front. Further points of interest include an old gargoyle from the Abbey on the gable wall, irregular windows and an old stone trough in the garden wall which a previous owner added around 1845 to display a famous find known as the Newstead meteorite although after detailed examination it turned out to be a mistaken identification and a meteorwrong!. The trough however is still evident and the find was displayed in the Museum in Chambers Street, Edinburgh and its fame even reached as far as America.

A regular bus service runs through the village with connections to the recently opened Borders Railway at Tweedbank and Galashiels with nearby attractions including a good range of quality shops, restaurants and facilities at Melrose. Local schooling is available at Melrose Primary School, Earlston High School or private schooling at St Mary’s Melrose. Newstead lies five minutes from the local hospital at Borders General and local attractions including Abbotsford, Trimontium, hill walking on the Eildons and along the River Tweed with plenty of sporting opportunities from golf to rugby including the world famous Melrose Sevens.

Entered down a private lane by a side gate within the stone garden wall opening to the enclosed garden with central entrance to rear. A solid timber entrance door with original brass grill opens to a tiled hall with wainscoting and neatly concealed utility cupboard below the stairs with a recessed bookcase at the foot of the stairs leading to the upper floor. The walls are tastefully decorated in carefully sourced wallpaper by William Morris best known for designs and subjects drawn from nature and a significant player in the Arts and Crafts movement. The front room is a truly attractive bay windowed living room overlooking the garden with timber flooring and a feature living flame gas fireplace within a black cast iron inset with traditional painted timber surround and fitted mirror. Alcoves at either side of the fireplace provide good book shelving while other traditional features include cornicing, Morris wallpaper and American cherry skirtings and facings. Across the hall lies the dining/kitchen with tiled floor, ideal for country living and again the feature wallpaper sets this off in style. A deep sill window with window seat to enjoy the garden and provides lovely light to the dining area. Notable features include the exposed ceiling with retained original beams including irregular green timbers, the rediscovered inglenook fireplace with highlighted features and housing the new gas range cooker with stone lintel, exposed stone walls and oak beam over. The kitchen is a good sized dining kitchen with the back wall combining old and new with a good range of contemporary units, twin Belfast sink with oak worktop either side and matching light oak integrated plate rack and display unit. The kitchen also includes a double doored larder unit while the new combi boiler and the electrics are housed in the original cupboard with another modern touch being the newly fitted smart meter for those who wish to keep an eye on energy costs.

The hall wallpaper continues up the cherry staircase and leads to a bright and traditional first floor landing with feature oriel window to front. Note the curious nook display on stairwell. The bathroom which lies next to the main bedroom and is contemporary again cleverly blending old and new styles. A stunning bathroom with slate flooring and part slate tiled walls incorporating a corner bath with shower jets and drencher over, contemporary wash bowl and recessed WC below modesty window. The main bedroom has the benefit of twin windows overlooking the garden and enjoys views of the Eildon hills with attractive window surrounds. The gable end feature window includes a window seat and bespoke shutters with views down the village to the hills across the Tweed with other features including a recessed shelved cupboard, cornicing, timber skirting and an attractive centre light fitting. The upstairs sitting room also has the extended bay window frontage with outlooks over the garden to the Eildons. Neutral carpeting compliments the décor with a centrepiece fireplace surround hand crafted in American cherry with integral mirror over and shelved alcove to side. Traditional features include cornicing, picture rails and cherry skirtings and facings with a hand turned cherry ceiling rose.

A door off the landing leads to an internal staircase opening to a bright landing with velux window to front and bespoke cherry fronted wardrobes either side. Both bedrooms enjoy good head height with dormer windows to front and characterful one with an interesting sunken window originally a nesting access for barn owls and the other with an arched window fitted with bespoke shutters.

Entrance HallDining Kitchen 3.45m x 4.29m (11’ 4” x 14’ 1”)Sitting/Dining Room 3.95m x 4.52m (13’ 0” x 14’ 10”)Main Bedroom 3.32m x 4.46m (10’ 11” x 14’8”)BathroomUpstairs Sitting Room 3.82m x 4.46m (12’ 6” x 14’8”)Bedroom Two 4.33m x 3.14m (14’ 2” x 10’4”)Bedroom Three 2.11m x 3.14m (6’ 11” x 10’4”)

The gardens do not disappoint and are enclosed within old stone walls either side with a small burn at the foot of the garden fenced on the garden side. A pebbled patio area lies next to the house with paved sitting area in sheltering gazebo adorned with climbing plants in the summer, planted borders with a mass of floral interests in the spring and a lawn to the lower half of the garden. A hobby shed provides a summerhouse with decked barbecue area beyond in addition to the timber shed and garden store.

All fitted carpets, curtains, blinds, lights and light fitting, all integral appliances and the understairs washing machine, the summer house with tumble dryer, shed and store are included in the sale.

Mains gas, electricity, water and drainage. Mainly double and gas central heating. Smart Meter.

Scottish Borders Council-Band E.

VIEWINGS. HOME REPORT AND FLOOR PLAN

To arrange a viewing or request a copy of the Home Report or Floor Plan contact the selling agents, Hastings Property Shop Selkirk on 01750 724160-lines open until 10pm 7 days a week.