Seeking a little shelter? Try this country house
IT IS a problem few home owners have to face today: ‘What do we do with the air raid shelter, now that the war’s over?’ But the need to protect ourselves from German bombers understandably became an obsession during the Second World War. Some areas of the country were more vulnerable to destructive night raids than others.
Cities and other industrial centres became prime targets for the Luftwaffe, as the shipbuilding districts of Glasgow and Clydebank would discover to their cost.
Three million Anderson shelters were constructed in back gardens all over Britain.
They would not withstand a direct hit, of course, but they did provide sanctuary from shrapnel to millions of terrified residents, with children often whisked from their beds during the night as the siren sent out its deadly warning.
It’s fair to say the semi-rural community of Lasswade, in Midlothian, was not top of the target list of the German High Command.
One of the oldest church parishes in Scotland, it is a sleepy backwater far enough from Edinburgh to provide relative safety from aerial bombardment.
Why, then, does the 19th Century Greenfield Lodge have an air raid shelter in its front lawn?
Owner Daphne Farquharson says: ‘The lady living in the house during the war was a spinster. She was extremely fond of her niece and nephew.
‘She became convinced that their parents would not allow them to sleep over at her place in case of bombing raids so she had a sturdy air raid shelter built in the garden. It’s still there, two rooms and a loo.’
Nowadays a much more agreeable role has been found for the subterranean sanctuary – it has been turned into a convenient wine cellar.
It is easy to see why wartime children would want to spend time with their aunt at Greenfield Lodge, for the gardens are a veritable adventure playground for youngsters.
Extending over 1.6 acres, the mature garden features formal lawns, rhododendron bushes, shrubs and herbaceous borders, woodland paths, fruit and vegetable allotments, two ponds and a former 19th Century bowling green.
Its carefully tended greenery has been opened to the public under the Scotland’s Gardens scheme and is well known in the area.
‘It’s fabulous in summer,’ says Mrs Farquharson. ‘In winter, everyone congregates in the kitchen because that’s the warmest part of the house, thanks to the Aga.
‘There’s an open fire in the drawing room, but we usually only light that when we are entertaining.
‘It’s a lovely house for enjoying family gatherings. We have had loads of big parties here but the place is equally comfortable when it’s just the two of us.’
The Georgian C-Listed house was built in 1820 before being extended 40 years later. It is believed that at one point it formed part of the Penicuik Estates as it had a clause inserted in the deeds, giving it first refusal on any future sale.
The house follows the traditional Georgian layout, with a most impressive vestibule and hall featuring brown and cream mosaic tiling and a sweeping wooden staircase.
Downstairs, pride of place goes to the bright bay-windowed drawing room with its original fireplace, inlaid with marble and surrounded in wood.
The spine of the house accommo- dates the bright garden room, kitchen and breakfasting room and dining room.
Upstairs are five bedrooms and a pool room which is larger than the master bedroom.
The Farquharsons are intending to move to the Highlands, where they plan to plant a wood.
Offers over £1.1 million to Hana Sheran at Murray Beith Murray. Tel 0131 225 1200 or email hana.sheran@murraybeith.co.uk