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This delightful and elegant late 18 th or early 19th Century Town House is situated right in the heart of Kirkcudbright on the historically renowned High Street.
Formerly two houses, this property was converted into one magnificent family home around 100 years ago. The house is accessed from the High Street through an imposing paneled front door, framed by columns, topped by a stone pediment, and with ornamental windows at each side, giving a feeling of grandeur and architectural significance .
The property is situated close to the Tolbooth and Mercat Cross, both with their own very interesting historical connections, and the garden immediately abuts the renowned garden of Broughton House, the former home of artist E.A. Hornel. On High Street the house occupied by the well known artist Charles Oppenheimer is next door and the Close cottage occupied by writer Dorothy L Sayers is similarly next door.
Extending to approximately 1.5 acres, the property incorporates a traditional enclosed town garden, stable block and greenhouses . There is a caged fruit patch and enclosed vegetable and herb beds. A paved seating area with pergola provides the perfect setting for “al fresco” dining in the Summer. Mature trees, flower beds and lawns complete this beautifully landscaped garden.
Kirkcudbright itself is an attractive harbour town which boasts an array of historical and architectural features of interest including a castle in its town centre, an ancient High Street, Tolbooth Arts Centre, Stewartry Museum and numerous galleries, including the newly opened Kirkcudbright Galleries and café on St Mary Street. Known as the “Artists’ Town”, Kirkcudbright was the home to the renowned artist E.A. Hornel (one of the “Glasgow Boys”) and other artists who formed the Artists’ Colony The town has an affiliation for art exhibitions and crafts.
Within the town there is a wide variety of family-owned shops, pubs, hotel and restaurants, active sports club facilities including the golf course, the marina, swimming pool, tennis courts, squash courts, as well as an active summer festivities programme including its own Jazz Festival, tattoo, and riding of the marches celebrations.
As presently configured, apart from the principal accommodation, it is split informally to provide two suites of near self contained accommodation, ideal for extended family or staff accommodation or an upmarket B & B, but without compromising the use of the whole house as a single dwelling. The suite on first floor even has a locking “front” door.
Accommodation
Most principal rooms have carpeting (of mixed condition), curtains, and central heating radiators from the gas fired boiler.
Ground floor
The ground floor hallway (28′ x 7′ 2″ max), has ornate cornicing to the ceiling and an archway leads to the wide carpeted staircase, with brass carpet rods, and a fine banister . To the left on entering are the Drawing Room, Morning Room and Utility Room, and to the right the Kitchen, Butler’s pantry, Dining Room and a Bathroom.
First Floor
The carpeted staircase rises by easy treads to the first floor. On the half landing, French doors open to a wrought iron spiral stair leading down to the flight of stone steps from the kitchen door.
At the top of the main stair, to the left, a door opens to a suite of rooms—the library (or further bedroom), small kitchen/utility, and up a few stairs, the shower room and two bedrooms (bedrooms 1 and 2), creating what is essentially a self contained flat for family and friends. To the right is the large en suite Master bedroom (rear), two further bedrooms (bedrooms 4, with en suite, and 5) and a WC apartment
Second Floor
A large double glazed velux roof window gives good natural light to the turn of the stairs. On the half landing is a walk in store that looks as if it may have been a WC Apartment at one time. On the second floor landing , to the left is a door opening to a suite of rooms –a living room (or bedroom 10) , bathroom, kitchen and storerooms ; and to the right across the landing are three further bedrooms ( bedrooms 6, 7 and 8) and large store.
Basement
Accessed by an easy timber staircase below the main stair, to the right are separate log and coal cellars, each with hatches for deliveries .( Between the fuel stores there is another good sized store, but this is accessed externally from the rear courtyard) . To the left there is a traditional wine cellar/ cool pantry with stone shelves and a large garden/work room containing the gas fired Central Heating boiler and stainless steel sink unit with drainer –a door to
Garden
The garden is a real delight, and wisely for such a long garden it is subdivided by various walls, trellises, hedges or trees into various compartments for interest. Immediately to the rear of the house there is the large graveled courtyard. The courtyard is separated from the vehicle entry by high walls, and access is taken by a pedestrian gate or through the vehicular gate with its fine stone pillars and wrought iron gate. The traditional coach house in the courtyard incorporates a small garage, and other stores including the stable with the stalls still in place, and a working WC apartment. A fine timber greenhouse is sited to the side of the courtyard, conveniently placed for the garden room within the house.
From the Courtyard, an iron gate in a high wall gives access to the first area of walled garden. The paths here through fine herbaceous borders are edged with sculpted ironwork and in the pond, a spout of water flows from the mouth of an ornamental iron fish. Within this walled area there is a second greenhouse adjacent to another of the stores contained within the coach house. In the end wall, a gate opens to the next section of garden, which is a productive area with fruit cages to the left, and timber edged vegetable plots to the right.
There is a charming gazebo here, wreathed with clematis, ideal for summer dining. Taller shrubs and light trellis work separate the productive area from the next section which has a good sized oval lawn, featuring a central stone plinth supporting a metal sculpture. More mature shrubs and small trees separate the lawn area from the bottom section which has a drying green and work areas, edged by the high perimeter wall, beyond which is the road that terminates at the Sailing Club and marina . A garden door in the perimeter wall gives access to this road, ideal for those with a boat.
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