A moving house
Historic home on market 21 years after a brick-by-brick relocation
The home that was relocated by 12 ft.
FEAST your eyes on this truly unique house, said to be the only one of its kind in Scotland.
The Old Toll House in Turriff, Aberdeenshire, was designed by Victorian architect William Robertson and built in 1826, alongside the bridge that it served.
Its picturesque position, a short walk from the River Deveron – one of the best salmon fishing rivers in the country – and its neat hexagonal structure with columns flanking the front door, are enough to set this pretty B-listed home aside.
But it is the history of the building that makes it a real gem.
And now house hunters are being given the chance to make this rare little dwelling their own.
It’s not the first time that the house has hit the headlines.
In its heyday it would have had to contend with only passing horse carriages. But in 1996 the property was moved brick-by-brick to a new site 12 ft away from its bridge to protect from motorised traffic.
The work – under the auspices of the North East Preservation Trust – went ahead after a campaign to save the building following Grampian Regional Council’s decision to demolish it after it fell into direpair.
The trust, together with the building’s former owners, Turriff Angling Association, won the fight to save it because of its historical importance and secured permission to dismantle and rebuild it.
But before it could be reconstructed every stone was painstakingly numbered, identified and photographed so that the rebuilt home would be as authentic as the original.
The work took two years to complete and the property was later placed on the open market.
At the time the then-trust chairman said the fully restored toll house would represent a bargain buy, adding: “The sale of this house will award someone the chance to buy a piece of history.”
Little has changed since then. Today it still retains its charming period features – like wooden window shutters – but combines them with the comfort of 21st century living.
And it packs a lot into its bijou space.
This delightful historic home has a quaint double aspect lounge which is
flooded with light and features a traditional fireplace and flagstone flooring.
The décor is in simple white with pale blue accents.
And what its compact kitchen lacks in space is more than made up for with its charm.
This little room has a Belfast sink, flagstone floor and a pretty window overlooking the rear of the property.
The bedroom is a haven of tranquil simplicity with two windows overlooking the stunning River Deveron.
Below the property is a cellar which is accessed via an outside stairway.
With views of not only the River but also the very fine Turriff Golf Club, this house could prove to be a dream-come-true holiday home for an angler or golfer.
It is on the market with local estate agents Stewart and Watson for offers over £105,000.