The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
A spacious and special stable
A ruined Georgian stables and coach house in Cupar has been beautifully restored and converted. The resulting family home has a self-contained courtyard, magnificent reception rooms, five en-suite bedrooms – and good eco credentials too.
The ceiling disappears all the way to the top of the building’s central tower
When Mary Miller first encountered Ferrymuir Stables they were in a ruinous state.
The roof of the 220-year-old stable block and coach house had fallen in and weeds were growing in what is now a fantastic living room.
“We came across it entirely by chance and fell in love with the building,” Mary, 58, explains.
The ruined coach house sat at the top of a field that was marked for a development of luxury houses by Richmond Homes.
Mary and her late husband had recently sold their home, nearby Westfield House, and were looking for a project.
“The financial crash hit after we sold our old house and before we bought the stables,” Mary explains. “Richmond Homes suddenly found themselves without any work so we employed them to do the conversion.”
While they used an architect to draw up plans, Mary designed the house’s layout and project managed much of the build.
“I was here every day,” she says. “I didn’t know a thing about building but I learned very quickly.”
Ferrymuir Stables sits off Westfield Road at the western edge of Cupar. Although the development of luxury homes is nearby, the stable is at one end and backs on to woodland to the rear, giving it nearly complete privacy.
“Planning took longer than building did,” Mary recalls. “Nearly all steading conversions are done by wrapping a corridor round one side but we didn’t want that. We’d rather have bigger rooms.”
The house is entered through an impressive entrance hall with a ceiling that disappears all the way to the top of the building’s central tower. “We did consider putting a stair and mezzanine level in here but couldn’t think what we would use it for,” Mary says.
At the heart of the U-shaped building is an enormous orangery that extends from the original structure out into the courtyard. Velux windows in the roof, multiple other windows and French doors make it a fantastic space. At more than 51 feet long, it’s enormous.
“We’ve had 80 people in here for parties before and it hasn’t felt busy in here,” Mary says. Off this space is the dining room and sitting room, which are divided by a partition that houses a double-sided gas fire.
Next to this is a state-of-the-art kitchen with utility off. The five bedrooms are all en-suite and the whole house has underfloor heating. The thick stone walls have been well insulated and on a cold day it’s cosy inside.
The orangery looks on to the courtyard, which has high stone walls and an archway over a gate. “It’s a really sheltered spot that gets the sun all day,” Mary continues. At the other side of the house is an expanse of lawn, while there’s a driveway and a stone garage that was built in 2010, at the same time as the conversion was done.
With Mary on her own, she’s decided to downsize a little. “I’m not sure where I want to go but I’ll know when I see it,” she explains. “It doesn’t need to be anything amazing. I’ve done living in a magnificent house.”