Serving up a classy home
Anyone for tennis? As we prepare to embark upon Wimbledon fortnight, here’s the perfect place to get in some pre-tournament practice. Kirkliston House sits in the hamlet of the same name, only ten miles west of edinburgh city centre.
It was built as the parish manse in 1850 and, unusually, the Church of Scotland subsequently bestowed upon the minister a full-size tennis court in the garden.
Current owner Michelle Lassers explained that, in those times, tennis was viewed as the sport closest to godliness.
She said: ‘Tennis was seen as being ecclesiastically refined. yes, you could be competitive but tennis allowed you to retain your dignity.
‘one cannot see a Victorian minister running down a field with a rugby ball tucked under his arm.’
Mrs Lassers still has haunting black and white pictures of a proud minister in front of his property, almost 170 years ago. Ladies in crinoline dresses take tea on the lawn, trying hard not to look at the camera.
other things survive, too, such as an original roller which generations must have used to keep the tennis court flat.
It was more modern considerations, however, that encouraged Mrs Lassers to relocate her family here from the capital’s new Town 21 years ago.
‘I wanted my children to embrace the outdoors,’ she said. ‘There were gardens near our flat in Moray Place but we were on the top floor and it was an expedition to get there.
‘The beauty of this place is the bus stop at the end of the drive. every 15 minutes, a service comes along and takes you right into Princes Street in 25 minutes.
‘It gave the children their independence. They could take the bus to school or meet friends in edinburgh at the weekend.’
The former manse itself is a treat, entered via a charming Gothic arched doorway, crowned with a flowering clematis feature.
There is a library with its own arched fireplace – surely a wonderful spot to curl up with a good book during the winter?
A set of wooden double doors links the drawing room to the formal dining room, which is graced with a very ornate tiled marble fireplace.
All the fireplaces in the house are in working order and benefit from a recent major refurbishment programme.
The roof was renewed and has a transferable ten-year guarantee on the pitched roof and a 20-year guarantee on the flat one.
Upstairs, there are four double bedrooms, including the master.
In the floored attic, there are twin hobby rooms – or places you could use for storage.
Clearly the Victorians were unaware that, a century later, a certain Mr Mcenroe would challenge the notion that tennis players were at all times dignified.
Tennis next to godliness? you cannot be serious.
Offers over £795,000. Contact Matthew Munro at Simpson and Marwick. Tel 0131 525 8600 or email property@simpmar.com.