Stunning 16th century estate near Edinburgh on the market for £5.25 million

This stunning 16th century estate just 30 minutes from Edinburgh has gone on the market for £5.25 million.

Stevenson House sits within 21 acres of private grounds, including a tranquil stretch of the River Tyne.

Surrounded by mature woodlands it’s a haven for wildlife, with regular sightings of roe deer, brown hares, and a variety of bird species. Yet the eight bed-room home is within a short drive of the A1 providing quick access to Edinburgh city centre and the airport.

It is on the market with Rettie & Co for £5.25 million.

Stevenson House has a fascinating history. The house as seen today dates from 1560 and replaced an earlier house that is understood to have been burnt to the ground during the Earl of Hartford’s invasion of Scotland in 1544. 

The house is a rare example of a ‘grange plan’ house meaning it was built in a square shape around a central courtyard three storeys high with a turnpike staircase at each of the four corners. 

There is no detailed record of the ownership of Stevenson House until 1624 when it was bought by John Sinclair and it remained in the Sinclair family until the death of Sir Robert Sinclair in 1899. 

The major changes to the house during that time were in the late 17th century when the south facing reception rooms were enlarged and made grander with the ceilings on the first floor raised, the rooms being panelled and decorated in the classical style of the period.

In 1931 Stevenson was bought by William Dunlop who surprisingly never moved in and when he died in 1946 the property was in a poor state and his son John spent the next 10 years carrying out an extensive restoration of the house and grounds. 

This included creating the library on the second floor and panelling it with cedar and mahogany salvaged from the break up of a liner in 1934. 

The salvaged timbers were also used to create bookshelves and panelling in some of the halls. 

On the death of John Dunlop’s widow in 2000 Stevenson was bought by the previous owners who undertook an 18 month project using a team of experts to restore and remodel the house and buildings to create a wonderful country house suitable for 21st century living. 

The current owners have continued updating and upgrading the house over the last four years.

The home comes with two additional properties, Little Stevenson,  a spacious family home in its own right with accommodation over two floors, and The Coach House.

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