Location
Inverleith Place is located in the much sought after Inverleith district of Edinburgh approximately 1.5 miles north of the city centre. It is renowned for quality family houses set in generous gardens.
The area is characterised by a large swathe of green open spaces including the world renowned Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith Park and the playing fields of George Heriots, The Edinburgh Academy and Fettes Schools.
The Edinburgh Academy School sports fields lie to the north of the house while the house benefits from a delightful southerly view over Inverleith Park.
The property is under a mile from Stockbridge which offers a range of specialist shopping and a fine choice of restaurants whilst Comely Bank and Craigleith provide further retail outlets.
The house is also well situated for access to Waverley Train Station and the main road routes westwards to the city bypass, airport and Motorway Network.
Description
Inverleith Place is a beautifully presented and substantial detached family home offering bright, spacious and flexible accommodation set over three floors. The property was lovingly renovated and restored by Tremmel Properties in 2007 and caters perfectly for modern family living, yet retains much of its original charm with a range of delightful period features. These features include the extensive stripped timberwork, intricate plasterwork, working shutters and magnificent mantelpieces. With aspects on all sides, there is an abundance of natural light throughout, with delightful outlooks from the ground and first floors to the south over Inverleith Park to the New Town, Edinburgh Castle and the iconic Edinburgh skyline, as well as to the north over Edinburgh Academy playing fields.
The raised front door is accessed via stone steps, and opens to the welcoming reception hall from where the principal reception rooms radiate, and stairs rise to the upper floor as well as descend to the garden level. To the south facing front of the house are the elegant bay windowed drawing and sitting room, of which the sitting room also benefits from west facing windows. There is a Butler's pantry off the sitting room, which is ideal for entertaining. Steps rise to the fifth bedroom with sits to the rear of the house. Also on the ground floor is a guest WC and cloakroom.
The remaining bedrooms are situated at first floor level, where there are four generously proportioned double bedrooms. The principal bedroom has an en suite shower room, while the others are served by the well appointed family bathroom.
The principal living accommodation is situated at garden level. Here there are a large TV room and a games room/ gym, as well as a study and utility room. The kitchen is delightful and has been practically thought out. There are timber units with granite work surfaces with an Aga. It is open to the dining room which in turn leads to the spectacular conservatory / orangery. This magnificent space offers light and warmth throughout the day with delightful views of, and double doors opening to the private garden and generous stone terrace. Also at this level is a further shower room.
The house sits well back from the road and is approached by an extensive gated driveway with parking for a number of cars. There is a mature hedge providing excellent screening and privacy, while there is a recently landscaped front garden with colourful planting. There is access to the rear garden down both sides of the house, with steps leading down from the driveway to the extensive, flat lawn and outdoor seating area. There are mature borders with a range of plants, shrubs and trees proving colour for much of the year. Along the west boundary, the garden has been terraced in recent years and re-planted with a range of plants, while there is also a hot tub.
Historic Note
The property was designed by the renowned architect John Begg and dates from 1894. This is a good example of a Scots 17th century Revival villa, with good period details. The asymmetric nature of the house, with its crow stepped gables, contrasting margins and variety of pediments are typical features of this Revival style. The polygonal bay window is a dominant feature of the street elevation and, situated across from Inverleith Park, the house is a distinctive addition to the streetscape. The interior of the house has undergone some alteration, particularly to the service area, but the public rooms retain some fine decorative timber work.
John Begg (1866-1937) was born in Bo'ness and worked for much of his life as an architect in India. He returned to Scotland in 1921 and worked in private practice in Edinburgh.