A half-century dual labour of love

A Stockbridge townhouse has been cherished as a family home and workplace for more than 50 years, writes Kirsty Mcluckie

The townhouse at number 3 St Bernard’s Crescent in Stockbridge, Edinburgh, is a unique property – even though it is one of a terrace.

Set at the end of the west side of an historic Georgian row in the heart of the popular suburb, it is set over four floors and has been owned by renowned Edinburgh conservation architect and planner John Hope for more than 50 years.

Now one of the most sought-after postcodes in the Capital, it is an indication of just how much the area’s fortunes have changed in that time when you learn that John bought the townhouse when he was a student.

He recalls: “It was in the late-1960s, before I was married. I was studying architecture at the time, and all my student friends thought I was nuts, but I bought it from my landlord.

“I wasn’t looking for a house but when I found out he was selling, he didn’t seem to be asking a lot

of money and we came to an agreement. Not something that you could do nowadays.”

John explains: “The whole of Stockbridge was fairly poor in the late-60s – I had one of only two cars on the street, an old Mini.”

“We have seen huge changes and Stockbridge is amazingly popular now, particularly during the last 20 years, but this is still quite a quiet street as it is tucked away.”

John married Diana, an artist, a couple of years after buying the house and they upgraded their home as they went along.

The house, along with its neighbours, was started in 1824 and completed in 1828 and was part of developer Sir Henry Raeburn’s plan for the whole area.

Because St Bernard’s Crescent was one of the last streets to be built, and had to fit in with Dean Street behind, number three is one of just a handful of houses with a private garden at the back.

The trees in the communal garden between the two corresponding crescents afford a huge amount of privacy – curtains are not necessary in the public rooms and on sunny evenings you can sit on the balcony without being overlooked as there isn’t much passing traffic.

In terms of layout, the house has been unchanged, John says: “Georgian properties don’t need to be changed much, but one job which took years was removing the Anaglypta wallpaper on the ground and first floor.”

Nevertheless, his more specialist restoration experience has come in handy down the years. The house has been re-roofed with new central heating, kitchen and bathrooms. John has also carried out the conservation work on the two buildings either side of his property, so is very familiar with the block.

Number three is a large house of more than 5,300sq ft, and John points out that – if reconfigured – it could have up to nine bedrooms.

Over the last half century, it has combined functions as a family home – the Hopes’ four daughters were brought up here – and a workplace as John ran his practice from the house. There is also a studio in the former laundry adjacent to the garden.

For a townhouse of this age, it is wider than most, so both the public rooms and most of the bedrooms have the luxury of space, packed with original features.

The front vestibule has its original flagstone floor and glazed double doors lead to the stone cantilevered staircase, lit from above by a 14-pane cupola in the roof.

The sitting room on the ground floor has rosewood and oak flooring, and two south-facing

windows set between three carved stone Doric columns.

The first-floor has a superb drawing room with period fireplace, detailed cornice work and a solid teak floor. French doors lead out to a stone balcony.

The master bedroom suite is also on the first floor, while the rest of the bedrooms are shared between the top floor and the garden level, which also has a superb kitchen, the studio or garden room and a small sitting room and pantry.

Access to the garden is through these and although not huge, it is nonetheless pretty and private.

Heading towards retirement, John says that it is the time in his life to downsize, but obviously he has never regretted taking the leap of faith that lead his student self to buy such a wonderful house.

Georgian properties don’t need to be changed much, but one job which took years was removing the Anaglypta wallpaper