About this property
The origins of Hartree are documented back to the 14th century and it was once the home of Lord Hartree.
Today, whilst retaining significant elements of the original castle, Hartree boasts its Georgian and Victorian heritage, including its impressive tower housing the front door, with battlements above. Hartree House has enjoyed complete refurbishment and further enhancement by the recent addition of new, architect-designed accommodation to the south facade, plus creation of courtyards, garaging and stunning formal gardens.
Over the past decade, the present owners have refurbished the house, fully upgrading its infrastructure and services and redecorating throughout. Works undertaken include:
– Upgrade to green energy services with installation of ground source heating (2 x 30kW heat pumps) plus a 147 solar panel array
– Full programme of insulation completed throughout, including replacing and double-glazing windows
– Cast replacement of all guttering, downpipes and hoppers, renewal of all above and below ground drainage networks and installation of ground and surface water reclamation systems
– Installation of audio and visual matrix throughout the main house and ancillary flats, plus rewiring and installation of intruder, fire, emergency lighting and door entry systems, all supported by super-fast Wi-Fi throughout the Estate
– Creation of a vaulted glass-floored gallery (The Cathedral Reading Room), housing a lift giving access to three storeys of the main house
– Transformation of the uppermost storey from an attic/servants quarters to a stunning Penthouse suite
– Formation of a new luxury three-bedroom apartment, The White House
– Purchase and top-end refurbishment of the original Victorian Lodge House, including a Clive Christian fitted kitchen
– Building of new curtilage structures comprising six garages, (including three, glass-fronted show garages), a gym, WCs, an estate manager’s office, gardener’s office, and bespoke glasshouse, sitting adjacent to a showcase Orangery, (~100m2/1000ft2), with lantern roof and panoramic views across the formal gardens; the whole increasing the footprint of the original house by over a third
– The lower ground floor of the main house has been converted from storage cellars into a classic Scottish country kitchen and utility with boot room and several storage bays leading to plant and comms rooms
– The original fields have been transformed into managed parkland, lakes, wildlife pond and arboretum. The new formal gardens and orchard, biodynamically managed, yield Scottish soft fruit, apple, pear and plum varieties, heritage vegetables and cut flowers year-round. Hundreds of meters of wildlife corridors, comprising heritage and native species, have been created and linked by tended walkways
– The restoration programme has culminated in the creation of a modern Borders Estate
An inventory of moveables including house fixtures and fittings; garden machinery and equipment is available and is by separate negotiation.
Local information
- Hartree House has a stunning setting of over 22.6 acres of landscaped gardens, woods and parkland. There are magnificent views from the house over the surrounding countryside to the Tinto Hills to the west, the Broughton Hills to the east and the Pentland Hills to the north.
- The property has a quiet rural setting off a minor road but is well placed for the cities, motorways and airports of central Scotland. The house is within easy reach of Edinburgh (28 miles), Glasgow (34 miles) and the M74 (12 miles). The A702 through Biggar is a main road link from Edinburgh to the M74, the principal motorway south to England. There is a railway station at Carstairs on the junction of the main Glasgow / Edinburgh line south to London. Edinburgh Airport is 28 miles away.
- The attractive town of Biggar provides a wide range of facilities including schools, shops and professional services. Other towns close by include West Linton (12 miles) and Peebles (18 miles).
- Edinburgh is within daily reach and a number of local children go to private schools in the city. There are bus services from Biggar to Edinburgh, Peebles, West Linton, Moffat and Dumfries.
- The recreational facilities and opportunities for rural pursuits are excellent. The local and regional areas are an equestrian and hillwalkers paradise, and are equally known for their road and mountain biking trails. Indeed, the world renowned 7 Stanes trail centre at Glentress is only a half hour drive away. The many rivers and lochs are popular for wild swimming, paddle boarding, sailing, and canoeing. There are local golf courses at Biggar, West Linton and Carnwarth and Hartree is only an hour’s drive from the East Lothian coast, the greatest concentration of championship links golf courses in the world, and home of the Scottish Open.
Additional information
- Viewings: Strictly by appointment with Savills – 0131 247 3738.
- Solicitor: Struan Ferguson, Blackwood & Smith, 39 High St, Peebles EH45 8AN Tel: 01721 720131 Email: Struan@blackwoodsmith.com
- Services: Mains water and electricity. Private drainage to septic tank. Heating and hot water from two 30kW ground source heat pumps connected to eleven 150m deep bore holes. 147 solar panels. Oil boiler as backup.
- Historic Environment Scotland: Hartree House is Listed Category C.
- Rights of Access: The back drive is owned. Neighbouring properties have rights of access as far as Hartree Square.
- Local Authority: Hartree House is in Scottish Borders Council Tax Band H. The Exclusive Use Venue has a Rateable Value of £6,500. Hartree Lodge is a self-catering unit and has a Rateable Value of £2,200.
- Fixtures & Fittings: An inventory of moveables including house fixtures and fittings; garden machinery and equipment is available and is by separate negotiation.
- Servitude rights, burdens and wayleaves: The property is sold subject to and with the benefit of all servitude rights, burdens, reservations and wayleaves, including rights of access and rights of way, whether public or private, light, support, drainage, water and wayleaves for masts, pylons, stays, cable, drains and water, gas and other pipes, whether contained in the Title Deeds or informally constituted and whether referred to in the General Remarks and Stipulations or not. The Purchaser(s) will be held to have satisfied himself as to the nature of all such servitude rights and others.
- Offers: Offers, in Scottish legal form, must be submitted by your solicitor to the Selling Agents. It is intended to set a closing date but the seller reserves the right to negotiate a sale with a single party. All genuinely interested parties are advised to instruct their solicitor to note their interest with the Selling Agents immediately after inspection.
- Deposit: A deposit of 10% of the purchase price may be required. It will be paid within 7 days of the conclusion of Missives. The deposit will be non-returnable in the event of the Purchaser(s) failing to complete the sale for reasons not attributable to the Seller or his agents.
- Photographs: April 2023
- Brochure Code: 230427
- Directions: From Edinburgh, follow the A702 southwest to Biggar. Continue through Biggar and turn left, signposted Broughton, onto Hartree Entries Road. Follow this road for about 1 kilometre to a junction and the gates to Hartree House are opposite. Passing through the gates, Hartree Lodge is on the left. A long drive leads through the parkland to the house.
- EPC Rating: C
- Tenure: Freehold
