Page 40 - June 2023

AT HOME WITH

picturesque
A

period property

Rob Armstrong tells us about the process of selling his unique
four-bed 19th century house in the Scottish Borders.

he Scottish Borders is a extended in 1889 when a Gothic-
picturesque part of Scotland style schoolroom was added.
Twith a scenic landscape that
attracts walkers, cyclists and those Rob used the ESPC website to
who love the outdoors with top-class find the house which has amazing
fishing spots, a beautiful coastline views of the Teviot Valley as
and woodland. well as an expansive garden with
rhododendrons and fruit trees, but
In 2010, antiques specialist Rob it was the schoolroom that first drew
Armstrong was hunting for a new Rob to the property. Rob says: “The garden was a lot of work, but it
property to showcase his finds when was one of the things that made the property
he came across the Old Schoolhouse “The main house needed upgrading so special.
in Minto – a pretty conservation but it was a great project,” he
village in the Borders, set between explains. “It has great views and “Location is key with everything – if it doesn’t
the neighbouring towns of Jedburgh someone could spend £1 million on have the view, you’re wasting your money.
and Hawick.
it to make it amazing, but I just spent Living in the Borders is like going back in time
what I had on it.” – it’s extremely beautiful and it has an amazing
The property was built in 1838 by microclimate, it’s one of the driest parts of
renowned architect William Henry Scotland, especially in Kelso. You can get to
Playfair who built the majority of Rob started the renovations Edinburgh quickly, or Berwick for the beach. It’s
Edinburgh’s eastern New Town and by adding central heating and a great place to bring up a family.
some of the Capital’s most famous ripped out the 70s-style carpets
buildings, such as the neoclassical and replaced them with solid oak
National Gallery and the Royal flooring, as well as adding a sunroom “I have a three-strike rule – if there are three
great things about a property, you’re fine. The
Scottish Academy. It was later and landscaping the garden.

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