Benrig,St Boswells,Roxburghshire

Beautifully positioned country house with the most spectacular private view of the River Tweed in the heart of the Scottish Borders.

St Boswells 1 mile, Melrose 5 miles, Edinburgh 40 miles (Distances approximate)

9 4 6

SituationBenrig is located on the outskirts of the popular and accessible Borders village of St Boswells in the heart of the Scott ish Borders high above the River Tweed with st aggering views of the valley and over the Borders countryside. Every day amenities can be found in the village and also in Melrose; a wider range of shops and services are available in Edinburgh, Galashiels (8 miles) and Kelso (10 miles). St Boswells has its own village school and is in the catchment area of Earlst on high school (6 miles). The village is well catered for and includes a mini supermarket, post offi ce, butcher, petrol st ation, hotel and an award winning bookshop/delicatessen/café along with a range of recreational facilities including a cricket ground, golf course and tennis courts. The Borders General Hosp ital is also located nearby, just outside Melrose.

Benrig is accessible from both the north and south. Edinburgh, lying approximately 40 miles to the north, has an international airport and an inter-city rail service, while Berwick-upon-Tweed, 32 miles to the east , has a main line st ation (current journey time to London approximately 3 hours 40 minutes). The new Borders Railway (opened by the Queen in September 2015) to Edinburgh has its terminus at Tweedbank, also just outside Melrose (where St Mary’s preparatory school is located).

6 reception rooms, 9 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms (1 ensuite), kitchen/breakfast room, nursery, boot room, laundry, att ic rooms

2 cott ages, traditional st one st able yard, offi ce building

Formal and walled gardens, tennis court, paddocks and fi eld shelter, trout fi shing on the River Tweed

In all about 14.75 acres

For sale as a whole

Approximate Gross Internal Floor Area677 sq m / 7287 sq ft

This plan is for guidance only and must not be relied upon as a st atement of fact . Att ention is drawn to the Important Notice on

the last page of the text of the Particulars

The sp ect acular rolling landscape of the Borders countryside off ers unrivalled scenic beauty. The area is renowned for its wealth of sp orting and recreational opportunities and its st rong equest rian tradition. The Scott ish Borders off er some of the fi nest fi shing in Britain on the Rivers Tweed and Teviot, with a wide variety of other sp orting act ivities available including game shooting, cycling, golf, walking and rugby.

DescriptionBenrig is a really att ract ive, 17th century former farmhouse (with later Vict orian additions), faced in st one under a slate roof and charact erised by the ever-changing colours of its Virginia creeper and Wist eria. The house is approached through st one gate pillars along a tarmacadam drive which terminates in a gravel sweep on the east side of the house, where the garden drops away to the river valley below.

The house has enormous charact er and charm and retains many of its original interior features including an elegant st aircase, large doorways, fi replaces and generous proportions throughout. The views from the house are quite exceptional, particularly from the main reception rooms, the main bedrooms and from the garden and drive. The ground fl oor consist s of a double entrance hall (including a large reception hall) leading to the handsome drawing room, dining room and the kitchen/breakfast room. The fi rst fl oor has 8 bedrooms; there is a ninth on the ground fl oor. More recently, a second sitt ing room was added to the footprint of the house, adjacent to the kitchen, giving a more informal reception room with its own door out into the garden. On the market for the fi rst time since 1985 the sale of Benrig represents a rare opportunity to purchase possibly the best positioned country house on the banks of The Tweed.

(See fl oor plans for room layout and dimensions).

Garden and GroundsThe gardens and grounds that surround Benrig are beautiful and are accessed by both front and back drives. To the east expansive lawns, that have a huge show of daff odils in the sp ring, st retch to the top of the riverbank that leads down to the River Tweed. Hidden within the riverbank is the “Cryst al Spring” which, in days gone by, provided fresh water for the house. Above it is the gin-house where a donkey would have been harnessed to a wheel. This empowered a ram to pump

the fresh sp ring water up to the house. In the front fi eld is a memorial to Donald the donkey who used to work this wheel. Also concealed within the riverbank are the remnants of the old gas works which supplied Benrig.

On entering Benrig drive, there is a hard tennis court on the right and, a litt le further on, a part-walled garden on the left , itself a garden for all seasons, rich in colour with a huge variety of plants within well-st ocked herbaceous borders, as well as mature trees and shrubs. Along the north and west ern side of the property are 3 paddocks (5.79 acres), all well fenced with a horse shelter. Currently, these are let on an annual grazing agreement. There is also a product ive, walled vegetable garden.

OutbuildingsImmediately to the west and north of Benrig is the st able block and adjoining cott age, with 3 bedrooms, the latt er being in need of upgrading. The st ables also provide useful st orage sp ace and a garage.

Accessed from the back drive is the offi ce, with views over adjoining fi elds, containing 3 offi ces/rooms, a WC and a covered parking area. Until recently, a business operated from this building.

Offi ce

Stable Block and Cott age

This plan is for guidance only and must not be relied upon as a st atement of fact . Att ention is drawn to the Important Notice on

the last page of the text of the Particulars

Stable Cott ageOffi ce

Benrig CottageAccessed from the back drive is Benrig Cottage, a really comfortable 3 bedroom cottage with 2 reception rooms, 2 bath/shower rooms, kitchen and conservatory. It has its own mature garden and is very private, being set apart from the main house and its outbuildings. It has its own parking area as well as a storeroom and potting shed.

(See floor plans).

ServicesServices Benrig House Benrig Cottage Stable Cottage OfficesElectricity Mains Mains Mains MainsWater Mains Mains Mains MainsDrainage Septic tank Septic tank Septic tank Septic tank

Central heating Oil fired central heating and Aga

Electric central heating system. LPG Aga and fire

Night storage heaters Night storage heaters

Council tax H D N/A Small business rates – zero rated (when applicable)

These services have not been tested and therefore there is no warranty from the agents.

Benrig Cottage

Benrig Cottage

This plan is for guidance only and must not be relied upon as a statement of fact. Attention is drawn to the Important Notice on

the last page of the text of the Particulars

EPC RatingsBenrig House: G Benrig Cottage: G

Sporting RightsThe sporting rights are in-hand and include trout fishing on the River Tweed.

Directions (TD6 0EX)Travelling south from Edinburgh on the A68, turn left onto the A699 at St Boswells towards K elso, after half a mile take the second left signposted Benrig Cemetery (Kirk Road). After 300 yards there is a sharp bend to the left, Benrig entrance is on the right after 100 yards.

Right of AccessA footpath follows the course of the River Tweed, along the riverbank.

Travel ArrangementsAirport: Edinburgh – Tel: 0844 448 8833 Newcastle – Tel: 0871 882 1121

Railway Stations: Borders Railway, Edinburgh and Berwick-upon-Tweed General Rail Information – Tel: 08457 48 49 50 www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations

Hotels: Buccleuch Arms Schloss Roxburghe The Green Heiton St Boswells TD6 0EW Kelso TD5 8JZ Tel: 01835 822 243 Tel: 01573 450 331

Car Hire: Avis – Tel: 0990 900500 Europcar – Tel: 08457 222 525

SolicitorsMessrs Hastings & Co, 28 The Square, Kelso TD5 7HH Tel: 01573 225 999

Local AuthorityScottish Borders Council, Council Headquarters, Newtown St Boswells, Melrose TD6 0SA Tel: 01835 824 000

Conditions of Sale1. Fixtures and Fittings Items not specifically mentioned within the sale particulars are not included in the sale but may be available for purchase at separate valuation. All carpets are included in the sale.

2. Title The subjects are sold under the conditions in the Title Deeds, rights of way (if any), water rights affecting the same, whether shown in the Title Deeds or not. They will be sold as possessed by the Seller and no warranty is given.

3. Deposit On conclusion of missives, a deposit of 10 per cent of the purchase price will be paid with the balance due at the date of entry. This deposit will be non-returnable in the event of a purchaser failing to complete the sale for reasons not attributable to the Sellers or their agents.

The wall plaque on the Mule Gin reads as follows: ‘Crystal Well’ is the romantic name for the spring below you. It was a good source of clean water for Benrig House at the top of the hill. In the mid 1800s the Elliot family built a pump to bring water to the house; it must have been more convenient than sending a maid down with a bucket! Mules or donkeys powered the pump, trudging round the room to your left. The pump or ram itself was in the smaller chamber next door. The Elliots made other improvements too. They built the decorated grotto for the spring, making a picturesque stopping place for a walk along the Tweed. They also built a small gas works a little further downstream, and an ice house upstream from the well. With running water, frozen food and gas lights their home would have been very hi-tech.

Connecting people & property, perfectly.

Fixtures and fittings: A list of the fitted carpets, curtains, light fittings and other items fixed to the property which are included in the sale (or may be available by separate negotiation) will be provided by the Seller’s Solicitors.

Important Notice 1. Particulars: These particulars are not an offer or contract, nor part of one. You should not rely on statements by Knight Frank LLP in the particulars or by word of mouth or in writing ( **information **) as being factually accurate about the property, its condition or its value. Neither Knight Frank LLP nor any joint agent has any authority to make any representations about the property, and accordingly any information given is entirely without responsibility on the part of the agents, seller(s)or lessor(s). 2. Photos etc: The photographs show only certain parts of the property as they appeared at the time they were taken. Areas, measurements and distances given are approximate only. 3. Regulations etc: Any reference to alterations to, or use of, any part of the property does not mean that any necessary planning, building regulations or other consent has been obtained. A buyer or lessee must find out by inspection or in other ways that these matters have been properly dealt with and that all information is correct. 4. VAT: The VAT position relating to the property may change without notice. Particulars dated March 2020. Photographs dated Spring/Summer 2019. Knight Frank LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England with registered number OC305934. Our registered office is 55 Baker Street, London, W1U 8AN, where you may look at a list of members names.

EntryBy arrangement.

ViewingViewing is strictly by prior appointment with the Sole Agents Knight Frank LLP. Prior to making an appointment to view, Knight Frank LLP strongly recommend that you discuss any particular points which are likely to affect your interest in the property with a member of staff who has seen the property in order that you do not make a wasted journey.

Closing DateA closing date by which offers must be submitted may be fixed later. Anyone who has informed the Selling Agents in writing that they intend to make an offer will be sent a letter drawing their attention to the Closing Date.

OffersAll offers to purchase the property (regardless of whether the offer is on a cash basis or subject to loan funding) must be accompanied with evidence of Source of Funds. This can be in the form of a bank statement showing the purchase price, a financial reference from a bank/funding source, or confirmation from a solicitor that the purchaser has sufficient funds to complete the purchase.

In addition, the purchaser must supply certified copies of his/her passport and confirmation of residence in terms acceptable under anti money laundering (AML) legislation. These documents will be required for all individuals who will appear on the title once the transaction is complete.

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