One house in a mill-ion

A family home near Brechin with all mod cons and an enormous attached mill house offers almost limitless potential to buyers with a sense of adventure. Jack McKeown examines the possibilities

Most of us would quite like a little bit of extra space in our home. On the other side of Balbirnie Mill house’s kitchen wall, there is exactly that. The mill, which lies near the River South Esk a few miles outside Brechin, sprawls across three floors, with numerous large windows letting natural light flood in. All told, it extends to almost 7,000sq ft.

To put it into context, that’s more than seven-and-a-half times the size of the average new house in the UK.

The property dates back to 1856. It was an animal feed mill until the 1970s and was later turned into a restaurant that is still well remembered by locals.

The building still contains much of its original equipment, including mill wheels, gearings, former dryer and burner.

The owners, Susan and Graeme Rivett, have had the property for 14 years. “We bought it from the man who converted it from a restaurant into a residential home,” Susan explains.

Since taking ownership of the house and mill Susan (49) and Graeme (54) have extensively refurbished it, converting a garage into a dining area, renewing windows and central heating, and putting in new bathrooms. The only room not renovated is the kitchen.

“That’s where we were going to create access through to the mill,” Susan explains. An interior designer, she planned to turn the mill into a design shop and display space.

“Unfortunately, the plan never came to fruition,” she laments. “Work drew us down south and, with a heavy heart, we’re having to sell the house.”

Balbirnie Mill is offered in two lots. There’s the house and attached mill, with an asking price of £450,000 and a separate steading, with just under an acre of land, on sale for £50,000.

The steading could, subject to planning permission, be converted into a house.

The main house has an open plan dining hall, accommodating what was once a garage, two large reception rooms, dining kitchen, bathroom and a downstairs bedroom or home office. French doors from the kitchen open up into the back garden and look out on to its mill and lade.

Upstairs there is a large master bedroom with a magnificent en suite enjoying views over the countryside.

There are two further bedrooms, a family bathroom and a laundry room. The owners decided that, rather than cart dirty laundry up and down stairs, it made more sense to house the washing machine and tumble dryer in their own room upstairs.

The mill sits in around two-thirds of an acre. There is off street parking to the front and a delightful rear garden, with the old mill lade and the burn cutting through.

The lade still works and can adjust the amount of water diverted from the burn to the water wheel (which is no longer operational.) Plans have been drawn up to incorporate the mill into the main house, which would create what would surely be one of the largest homes in the area.

It would also be easily large enough to create at least two townhouses next to the main property.

The potential is almost limitless. All any prospective owner needs is a sense of adventure and an architect with a good deal of imagination.

Deep pockets will probably also help.