The Herald - The Herald Magazine
Future home with links to the past built in
KNOWETOWNHEAD Steading is a one-off country house in the Scottish Borders which offers a perfect blend of period and contemporary style complemented by wrap-round, fully enclosed gardens (0.75 acres), detached triple garage, and to round it off, a setting backing onto woodland that offers a perfect balance between rural lifestyle and access to amenities.
Situated in the hamlet of Hassendean – only a few miles between the towns of Hawick and Jedburgh and close to the A68 linking to Edinburgh – Knowetownhead Steading was built in the late 18th Century but has undergone many changes since. Completely restored and transformed by the current owners in 2017, the property is now a five-bedroomed architect designed home offering character and historic detailing combined with visually striking contemporary interior and high specification, which gives it an A-rating for energy efficiency.
The two-storey L-shaped layout encompasses over 2,600 sq ft to give a spectacular 54ft open plan kitchen/dining/ living room with windows/doors on two sides linking to the garden, while at one end, a separate sitting room features a hole-in-thewall double-sided fireplace and full-height glazed apex gable window. The ground floor level also has an impressive doubleheight hall with a steel staircase and glass balustrades, utility, and dual aspect double bedroom with en suite shower room.
Upstairs, the remaining four bedrooms
– all en suite – are off a galleried landing displaying exposed Douglas Fir ceiling beams. Three bedrooms have en suite shower room, while the 24ft principal bedroom has a full bathroom, adjoining dressing room/walkin wardrobe, exposed ceiling trusses, and a full-height apex gable window framing views over the surrounding countryside.
Immaculately presented, standout features include underfloor heating throughout the ground floor (the property has solar PV
panels), high-end fitted kitchen, light wood flooring and expansive glazing. Providing a link with the past, an exterior wall incorporates two stone relics – an Agnus Dei, (a Christian emblem for the Lamb of God) and a date stone carved with 1628 – both are thought to have come from the original 12th Century Hassendean Church, which was demolished in 1690.
Knowetownhead Steading is surrounded by expansive level grounds incorporating lawn gravelled areas, and sizable monobloc driveway/parking – the triple garage is a substantial detached addition with conversion potential if desired.
Offers over £825,000 are invited to Hastings Legal in Kelso.