Versatile B listed townhouse in historic location.

Description

SUMMARY
Set in the heart of Old Aberdeen, this delightful B listed granite townhouse has been formed from two buildings to create the substantial home of today and offers extremely versatile living space. This could be multi-generational living space, blended home working or even a bespoke business with an extensive basement area which, with necessary consents, could be converted further. Period features include high ceilings, panelled doors, large Georgian windows, functioning shutters and fireplaces.

The vestibule leads into the reception hallway and the ground floor accommodation and has a cloakroom with white WC and hand basin. Overlooking the atmospheric cobbled street is the family room with period cast iron surround and gas fire. An elegant sitting room with open chimney fireplace has twin aspect windows again with a lovely street view. For studying or working from home the library includes full height fixed bookcases. The delightful dining room has windows to the garden and a feature archway into the kitchen where an extensive range of oak units are complemented by Corian worksurfaces and tiled splashbacks. The island unit offers extensive working area plus additional storage and built-in waste bins. Appliances are well catered for with a Smeg range cooker with twin ovens, Schott five ring ceramic hob, extractor hood with external ventilation, twin sink, dishwasher, fridge freezer and once again a delightful garden aspect. A rear vestibule gives direct access into the rear garden. For everyday tasks there is a utility room and WC with plumbing for an automatic washing machine, space for a tumble dryer, stainless steel sink, storage units with work surface and an obscured glass window.

The multi-purpose garden room has direct garden access, stone floor and coal bunker. This room comes into its own when larger home entertaining is required, with additional larder storage facilities including a new chest freezer.

An elegant curved staircase is lit by a large window which floods the landing with natural light. At first floor level is the large principal bedroom which was the original drawing room. The dressing room is a great addition to the main bedroom and could provide opportunity for a generous en suite bathroom. Four further large bedrooms are serviced by both a shower room and a bathroom with roll top bath with thermostatic shower unit with adjustable handset plus rainfall shower head.

The staircase continues up to the second floor where there are two additional double bedrooms, both with large windows with rooftop views to the sea.

Particularly versatile is the substantial basement area. A stone staircase provides separate access from the garden to this level. The basement layout is as follows: a wine cellar; storage room with cobbled original flooring and small ground level window to the front of house; workshop/games room with ground level windows to front of house; further storage room with window. The west wing of the basement area retains the original cobble floor and comprises basement room one with fixed shelving; basement room two with pressurised MegaFlo Heatrae Sadia hot water cylinder to provide hot water to accommodation above; basement room three providing additional storage. All areas have power and light.

OUTSIDE
At the rear is a delightful, enclosed and sheltered productive rear garden including a raised vegetable bed for a kitchen garden, soft fruit bushes and apple tree. Lock-block paths, patio area and lawn with pergola and bench seat. Exterior lighting.

Double driveway gate provides access to an off street car parking space. Resident and visitor parking is also available on the High Street.

Location

Old Aberdeen is a hidden gem in the northeast with a medieval cathedral, a late medieval bridge and a late 15th century college all close by.
A small town that was once independent from Aberdeen and situated to the north of the City of Aberdeen, Old Aberdeen is largely a conservation area, and retains a wonderful sense of history and an intriguing mixture of architecture. It is rich in historic buildings: some, like St Machar’s Cathedral, date from the Middle Ages, and there are many period buildings of the 18th to early 19th centuries, mostly built in the local grey granite which is famous for its silver sparkle on sunny days. The King’s College campus of the University of Aberdeen is in Old Aberdeen, its buildings ranging from its 15th century chapel to the stunning new library by architects Schmidt Hammer Lassen, opened in 2012. There is also a pub, range of shops and cafes. Seaton Park, with its hidden walled garden and numerous riverside walks, is within minutes of the property; a wide range of wildlife can be seen there including ducks, swans, herons, otters, seals, red squirrels and deer. The Cruickshsank Botanic Garden and Donmouth beach is also nearby.

Situated relatively near to a main arterial route with an excellent local bus service, you are minutes from Aberdeen city centre which provides the amenities one expects of a modern city. There are numerous pubs, bars, cafés and restaurants, with a fantastic theatre, concert halls, art gallery and cinemas to enjoy. Aberdeen is renowned for its superb educational and recreational facilities; there are extensive indoor and outdoor activities all near the property. As well as the excellent bus services within the city, there are good links by air, rail and coach to places within Scotland, UK and further afield; with national and international flights being provided from nearby Dyce International Airport. The main East Coast line operates from Aberdeen providing a link to Edinburgh, to the north of England and to London. ScotRail provides services throughout Scotland including to Glasgow, Perth and Inverness.

Square Footage: 3,433 sq ft



Directions

From Aberdeen centre, follow King Street A956. At the roundabout at St Machar Drive A978 turn first left
then turn left into Elphinstone Road, turn left onto Meston Walk then left onto the High Street. The property is on the left hand side.

Additional Info

History
Old Aberdeen is an ancient community with a history going back a thousand years. Completely independent from New Aberdeen until 1891, Old Aberdeen retains a wonderful sense of history and an intriguing mixture of architecture on a core street plan that dates from the medieval period. The oldest part is the area around St Machar’s Cathedral, known as the Chanonry, which developed with the cathedral from the 12th century onwards.

From 1489 Old Aberdeen became a Burgh of Barony by grant of a charter from James IV, after which the merchant area around the Town House developed. The academic area developed after the foundation of King’s College in 1495.

No. 107 High Street sits squarely in the centre of the merchant area, facing into the widened roadway where local markets were formerly held around the market cross in front of the 1788 Town House. On the Parson James Gordon map of 1661, the location of 107 High Street is already built up and while the present building dates from a more recent era, the foundations may well pre-date the visible walls.

Conservation Area and Listing
No. 107 High Street was once the residence of William MacGillivray, Ornithologist 1796 - 1852 and a commemorative plaque is at the entrance to the property which is Category B Listed by Historic Environment Scotland. Old Aberdeen is a Conservation Area (one of the first in Scotland) with an active Heritage Society to protect its status and has a strong sense of community with many activities and opportunities for involvement across the year. These include The Heritage Society, Friends of Seaton Park, Friends of Cruickshank Botanical Gardens, University public events and a Community Council.