How to live like a laird
...in renovated manor just 17 miles from city
THIS B-listed mansion has been transformed since it was occupied by just one man and his dog. The elderly gentleman and his Labrador were using only the kitchen and one other room of the spacious Letham House when current owners Barbara and Chris Sharman came to see it 13 years ago.
‘There was just one working bathroom and a shower room, which was pretty dire,’ Mrs Sharman said.
‘The roof leaked, the chimneys were faulty and a dead pigeon lay on the floor of one of the bedrooms. We fell in love with the house straight away.’
This now renovated seven-bedroom property, which dates back to 1645, sits on the edge of Haddington, East Lothian, and is only 17 miles from Edinburgh.
It started life as a laird’s house, surrounded by five farms and 2,000 acres of land. Centuries of economic changes have subsequently seen that whittled away to four acres of gardens. The Sharmans spent two years tackling basic improvements, such as a new roof in Scotch slate, full electrical rewiring, renovation of fireplaces, relining the chimney stacks, replumbing and the installation of a new central heating system. Then they went one better and fitted CAT5 cabling throughout, a wireless fire alarm system, underfloor heating in the bathrooms and a ‘spare’ kitchen.
The result is a charming country home renovated to a high standard, and done with the input of Historic Environment Scotland.
Mrs Sharman said: ‘At first it can look like a vast property but, once you get in, it feels like a manageable family home. Some big piles have masses of accommodation no one knows what to do with. That’s not the case here.’
Husband Chris found scope to create a ‘James Bond Room’. He said: ‘For a bit of drama we fitted a bookcase on hinges between the dining room and the prep kitchen, to serve as the secret door.’
The ground floor of the 7,500 square foot property includes a hallway and a snug sitting area, office, bedroom or study, dining kitchen with Aga, garden room, dining room and the prep kitchen. The drawing room and music room are on the first floor, along with a sitting room, the master bedroom and a second bedroom, both with en suite shower rooms, plus a separate bathroom.
Four more bedroom suites can be found on the second floor.
Letham House is approached via a long boulevard-style driveway with stone pillar gates, giving it a stately home look.
The grounds offer a tandem garage and a timber-built insulated workshop or studio, with water, power and internet connection.