A dram fine past
Whisky distiller and altruist’s ex-home boasts an angel’s share of period charm and opulence
ROOT around in any old house and you will be amazed at what you turn up. For example, what may seem like yet another handsome, detached villa in an affluent city suburb actually turns out to be steeped in the history of Scotland’s national drink. This particular property served as an unofficial whisky embassy. It was once the home of Sir Maurice Bloch, head of Bloch Brothers (Distillers) Ltd, who conducted wonderful lectures about the water of life from the comfort of his billiards room.
When he sold his whisky empire in 1954, Sir Maurice set up the Maurice Bloch Trust, a charitable foundation for the advancement of religion and education.
The Jewish community of Glasgow was so grateful for his munificence – his money was also used to help fund the cure and alleviation of sickness and disease – that they planted a forest of 10,000 trees in Israel in his honour.
Since Sir Maurice’s death in 1964, his grand home at 39 Newark Drive, in Glasgow’s Pollokshields, has been split in two to form upper and lower conversions.
These projects are not always successful. Trying to create two homes out of one effectively rips up the original planner’s concept of what the finished article should look like. Thankfully, the sympathetic alterations to this fine building have not robbed it of its character.
The lower conversion of this sandstone period residence is now on sale.
The drawing room is probably unchanged from the original, and is graced by gorgeous, curved cornicing on the ceiling that fits into the natural bend of the bay window. This large window offers very attractive views to the front garden and the roadway beyond – one of the widest boulevards in the area.
The Pollokshields Heritage charity says the area was developed as the original and most complete example of a Victorian garden suburb in Scotland, if not the UK.
By 1876, the population had risen to 1,518, allowing West Pollokshields to become an independent burgh.
By 1910, with the addition of the most opulent villas on its western edge, the suburb was largely complete.
There are almost 30 mature trees in the back and front garden, which provide wonderful privacy.
But these natural beauties do require work and the cost of keeping them in trim is not inconsiderable.
Owner Alistair Laing, a civil engineer, has been happy to put his shoulder to the tasks required in any old home.
He said: ‘I’ve really enjoyed doing the general repairs you never see.
‘I’ve been climbing on the roof, fixing the gutters.
‘We put in a new boiler and a new heating system, rebuilt fireplaces – you name it, we did it.’
The fireplace in the master bedroom is worthy of special mention. It is original, built to head height and comes decorated with mythical female characters and lovely flowers carved into the wood.
Again, the ceiling boasts that unusual curve in the cornicing, while floor-toceiling panelling frames the five-pane window to the front.
The guest bedroom at the back of the property has its own dressing room and there are two further bedrooms, a bathroom, shower room and professionally installed kitchen/diner.
The large back garden is perfect for entertaining and al fresco dining – when the Scottish weather allows.
Mr Laing held a party here when Andy Murray won his first Wimbledon final, plonking the television on the lawn (attached by a few extension leads).
If the guests raised a few drams in honour of our champion from Dunblane, a certain former owner of the house would no doubt have approved.
Offers over £475,000 to Corum, Shawlands. Call 0141 636 7588 or email ShawlandsOffice@corumproperty.co.uk.