Kirkside House
St. Cyrus, Montrose, Kincardineshire, DD10 0DA
Guide Price
£950,000
Residential Tags: Georgian
Property Tags: Fishery, Walled Garden
Land Tags: Fishing Rights and Lakes, Paddock
Summary Details
- First Marketed: Feb 2022
- Removed: Date Not Available
- Residential Tags: Georgian
- Property Tags: Fishery, Walled Garden
- Land Tags: Fishing Rights and Lakes, Paddock
Truly outstanding turnkey country home, architecturally and historically rewarding, beautifully presented, with delightful views to the sea and surrounding countryside.
Description
Historical & Architectural Note
Pevsner Architectural Guide for Aberdeenshire South (Yale University Press, 2015) describes Kirkside House as a “complex house and a deeply rewarding one”, and continues that “The land... was granted to the Stratons of Lauriston in 1582... In 1619… they built a tower house... of which cellarage and a lintel dated 1675 still survive... and in the mid 18th century a new Georgian house was built for Arthur Straton, the 6th Laird. It was completed in 1764, but in less than half a century it became the rear wing for an entirely new house, built in c1805 for the 7th Laird, Joseph Straton. Robert S Lorimer made a fine addition to it in 1907-08... and also remodelled the whole ground floor of the interior. The house now takes the form of a large L plan with the main frontage facing southwest.”
In 1816, Lt General Sir Joseph Muter, nephew of the 7th Laird, and a hero at Waterloo... erected the handsome gates on the main road, embellished with eagles. Alan Stevenson, renowned lighthouse builder and son of Robert Stevenson, who built the Bell Rock Lighthouse, which can be seen from the house, rented it in the 1850s. His nephew, Robert Louis Stevenson, the celebrated Scottish novelist and author of Kidnapped and Treasure Island, is believed to have written part of The Strange Case of Dr Jeckyll and Mr Hyde, while staying in the house.
In 1980 the house was sympathetically divided to produce two distinct country homes, from different eras and with different aspects. The rear, and earlier part of the house, now known as Straton House, previously used as staff and supplementary accommodation and for carriages, faces southeast over a courtyard. The front and principal portion, Kirkside House, comprising the later Georgian and Lorimer wing, faces southwest. The property was sold for only the third time to the current owners in 2018, who have since undertaken a substantive programme of improvements, to create the outstanding home that it is today.
Description
Kirkside House is a stunning, beautifully presented and very manageable country home, situated in a dramatic setting above the coast, with far reaching views over the sea at Montrose Bay and on a clear day, to the Lammermuir Hills. It boasts most elegant and beautifully proportioned rooms, arranged over three floors, as well as gorgeous gardens and grounds, so is ideal for modern family or multi-generational living, working from home and for entertaining. On the ground floor is a hugely impressive drawing room, known as the Lorimer Wing, together with an equally imposing dining hall, off which is a large bespoke country house style kitchen, with ample space for informal dining. Upstairs is a cosy library, family bathroom and three fine bedrooms, one being a stunning principal bedroom suite with dressing room and en suite. At the lower ground floor level is a study, boot room / utility, log store, stores and larders. A home of considerable character and architectural merit, it retains many of its original features. Since 2018 the house has benefitted from a substantial and very tasteful renovation programme working closely with Historic Environment Scotland. Undertaken to the highest of standards, the level of presentation now is exemplary. Whilst fully modernised, the house is still very much of its period with features such as restored cornices in the principal rooms, and traditional brass door furnishings. Works included replastering, rewiring and replumbing, steel beams, state of the art security systems, new steel oil tank and hard wired (CAT5 cables) WiFi systems. The gardens have been re-landscaped. The overall effect is remarkable. Kirkside House is the principal and front facing wing of the property, and feels very private.
A detailed internal description of the house is shown under Additional Information.
The garden in front, enclosed by walls, is most attractive with lawns, flower, shrub and herbaceous borders, together with seating areas, making the most of the views. Beyond is a wooded area with mature trees, a garden store (5.85 m x 4.3 m), and in the spring is a mass of bulbs. Off the side drive is a further grassed area of garden.
On the other side of the minor road, which leads down to St Cyrus beach, are the walled garden and paddocks. The lower garden is partially walled, divided by box hedged paths with fruit and productive raised vegetable borders, composting bins and a lean to glasshouse (11.9 m x 3.25 m) with work benches. Above is the doo'cot paddock. This is walled and down to grass with a charming stone built doo'cot (2.9 m x 2.9 m) with stone nesting boxes, a stone and brick lean to potting shed (2.5 m x 5.3 m) with a slate roof, and a well. The top paddock is also walled and in grass.
Location
Kirkside House enjoys an elevated and enviable position above the cliffs at the southern end of St Cyrus Beach and Nature Reserve. This part of the coastline comprises sandy beaches and red sandstone cliffs. As well as St Cyrus, other popular local beaches are found at Lunan Bay and Montrose. Away from the coast the range of outdoor pursuits is impressive. Fishing can be taken on the nearby North and South Esks, while golf courses are found at Montrose, Stonehaven and Edzell, together with the championship course at Carnoustie. Sea fishing is available from Johnshaven.
St Cyrus has a primary school and a village shop / post office. A wide range of shopping, business and leisure facilities can be found in Montrose including a new cinema. Mearns Academy in Laurencekirk provides secondary schooling. Lathallan School at Johnshaven is a well known local private school. The High School of Dundee and the private schools in Aberdeen are also easily accessible by train from Montrose. Montrose is an historic port, while Montrose Basin is a surrounded tidal basin and renowned wildlife habitat and nature reserve, famed for its spectacular sunsets and ever changing tidal flows.
The A92 coast road runs from Stonehaven to Dundee via Montrose and Arbroath, while inland the A90 dual carriageway runs north from Dundee to Aberdeen. Journey times to Aberdeen and its airport have been much reduced with the opening of the Western Peripheral Route. Aberdeen and Dundee provide all the services expected of major cities, and Dundee has renowned facilities including the new V&A museum. Montrose is served by the East Coast railway line with regular services to Aberdeen and the south, including the Caledonian sleeper service and fast trains to London. Aberdeen Airport has a range of domestic and international services. Edinburgh Airport is also easily reached.
Square Footage: 5,478 sq ft
Acreage: 3.7 Acres
Directions
If coming from the south on the A92 (Dundee to Stonehaven) coast road, continue north from Montrose. Cross over the River North Esk, the county boundary between Angus and Kincardineshire (or Aberdeenshire). Proceed for a further 1.4 miles, passing the sign for Mill of Criggie Trout Fishery, and then turn right onto the single track road which leads to St Cyrus beach. The drive into Kirkside House will be seen on the left after 0.3 miles.
If coming from the north on the A92 then proceed through St Cyrus. After 0.5 miles, and immediately after passing the wrought iron gates surmounted by eagles, turn left onto the single track road and proceed as above.
Additional Info
Detailed Internal Description
Stone gate piers, with wooden gates, open onto a circular drive which leads up to the house. Curved and arched steps rise up to a Doric columned and pedimented front door, partially glazed, with outer storm doors and opens to the entrance. An arched opening leads into the exceptional dining hall with seagrass textured wallpaper, fireplace with original carved wooden mantel and a Chesneys wood burning stove, panelling to dado level and parquet flooring. A curved door opens into the inner hallway with display shelves, parquet flooring and a cloakroom with gold leaf ceiling, panelling to dado level, Thomas Crapper WC with thunderbox, custom marble stand with hammered Catchpole & Rye brass washbasin and taps, and a wooden floor. The Lorimer wing is a truly magnificent drawing room featuring a high ornate ceiling hand crafted by Nathaniel Grieve, bay window making the most of the views, fireplace with carved wooden mantel with a Chesneys wood burning stove, dado rail, display alcoves with cupboards below, parquet flooring and further bay window overlooking the garden. From the dining hall another curved door leads to the kitchen via the servery which has two storage cupboards and stairs to the lower ground floor.
Off the hall is the new lavish kitchen with custom wooden units, granite worktops, Lacanche range cooker with a double extractor, pot filler tap, four ovens, five gas burners and a Plancha or Teppanyaki griddle. Tall storage cabinets house a larder unit with granite worktop and Quooker tap, large integrated Miele fridge and separate large Miele freezer. The central island with granite top has a breakfast bar, a V Zug dishwasher and a Kohler cast iron sink. There is a fireplace with a Chesneys wood burning stove, window shutters, parquet flooring and ample space for sitting and informal dining.
The panelled wooden curved staircase leads to the first floor landing which opens up to a custom built library and a generous walk in storage cupboard. The hugely impressive principal bedroom suite comprises a dressing room with picture rail, extensive custom fitted wardrobes and a fireplace. The bow fronted bedroom has windows facing south and west framing the wonderful views, window shutters, cast iron corner fireplace with wooden mantel and overmantel, and Ralph Lauren wallpaper. The magnificent en suite bathroom again has Ralph Lauren wallpaper, cast iron fireplace with wooden mantel and overmantel, a Catchpole & Rye bespoke marble wash stand with two washbasins, free standing Catchpole & Rye cast iron bath, antique armoire for storage, separate marble tiled Catchpole & Rye shower together with a separate WC with thunderbox. Also off the landing is the family bathroom with a tiled bath enclosed with shower over, custom marble stand with washbasin and a WC with thunderbox. A hatch with attic ladder gives access to floored roof space. Bedrooms two and three both have picture and dado rails and a fireplace with a wooden mantel.
Stone steps lead down to the lower ground floor where there is an original fully operational serving lift to the ground floor, a stone shelved cupboard and an understair storage cupboard. A study with a fireplace with wooden mantel has planning consent to be converted into a shower and sauna. The boot room / utility has a Belfast sink. There is a log storeroom and cellars including a former coal cellar, while the boiler room has a Worcester oil fired boiler. Off a passageway with a back door is a work room with Belfast sink, fitted shelves and plumbing for a washing machine, together with a wine store, larder with stone and wooden shelves, and a WC.
Environmental Stipulations
Kirkside House, including the garden walls, gates and doo’cot, are Listed Category B.
Access
There is a right of access past the side of the house to Straton House and Cottage to the rear. Kirkside House enjoys access to the courtyard of Straton House for fuel deliveries.
Marketed by: Savills, Brechin
Description
Historical & Architectural Note
Pevsner Architectural Guide for Aberdeenshire South (Yale University Press, 2015) describes Kirkside House as a “complex house and a deeply rewarding one”, and continues that “The land... was granted to the Stratons of Lauriston in 1582... In 1619… they built a tower house... of which cellarage and a lintel dated 1675 still survive... and in the mid 18th century a new Georgian house was built for Arthur Straton, the 6th Laird. It was completed in 1764, but in less than half a century it became the rear wing for an entirely new house, built in c1805 for the 7th Laird, Joseph Straton. Robert S Lorimer made a fine addition to it in 1907-08... and also remodelled the whole ground floor of the interior. The house now takes the form of a large L plan with the main frontage facing southwest.”
In 1816, Lt General Sir Joseph Muter, nephew of the 7th Laird, and a hero at Waterloo... erected the handsome gates on the main road, embellished with eagles. Alan Stevenson, renowned lighthouse builder and son of Robert Stevenson, who built the Bell Rock Lighthouse, which can be seen from the house, rented it in the 1850s. His nephew, Robert Louis Stevenson, the celebrated Scottish novelist and author of Kidnapped and Treasure Island, is believed to have written part of The Strange Case of Dr Jeckyll and Mr Hyde, while staying in the house.
In 1980 the house was sympathetically divided to produce two distinct country homes, from different eras and with different aspects. The rear, and earlier part of the house, now known as Straton House, previously used as staff and supplementary accommodation and for carriages, faces southeast over a courtyard. The front and principal portion, Kirkside House, comprising the later Georgian and Lorimer wing, faces southwest. The property was sold for only the third time to the current owners in 2018, who have since undertaken a substantive programme of improvements, to create the outstanding home that it is today.
Description
Kirkside House is a stunning, beautifully presented and very manageable country home, situated in a dramatic setting above the coast, with far reaching views over the sea at Montrose Bay and on a clear day, to the Lammermuir Hills. It boasts most elegant and beautifully proportioned rooms, arranged over three floors, as well as gorgeous gardens and grounds, so is ideal for modern family or multi-generational living, working from home and for entertaining. On the ground floor is a hugely impressive drawing room, known as the Lorimer Wing, together with an equally imposing dining hall, off which is a large bespoke country house style kitchen, with ample space for informal dining. Upstairs is a cosy library, family bathroom and three fine bedrooms, one being a stunning principal bedroom suite with dressing room and en suite. At the lower ground floor level is a study, boot room / utility, log store, stores and larders. A home of considerable character and architectural merit, it retains many of its original features. Since 2018 the house has benefitted from a substantial and very tasteful renovation programme working closely with Historic Environment Scotland. Undertaken to the highest of standards, the level of presentation now is exemplary. Whilst fully modernised, the house is still very much of its period with features such as restored cornices in the principal rooms, and traditional brass door furnishings. Works included replastering, rewiring and replumbing, steel beams, state of the art security systems, new steel oil tank and hard wired (CAT5 cables) WiFi systems. The gardens have been re-landscaped. The overall effect is remarkable. Kirkside House is the principal and front facing wing of the property, and feels very private.
A detailed internal description of the house is shown under Additional Information.
The garden in front, enclosed by walls, is most attractive with lawns, flower, shrub and herbaceous borders, together with seating areas, making the most of the views. Beyond is a wooded area with mature trees, a garden store (5.85 m x 4.3 m), and in the spring is a mass of bulbs. Off the side drive is a further grassed area of garden.
On the other side of the minor road, which leads down to St Cyrus beach, are the walled garden and paddocks. The lower garden is partially walled, divided by box hedged paths with fruit and productive raised vegetable borders, composting bins and a lean to glasshouse (11.9 m x 3.25 m) with work benches. Above is the doo'cot paddock. This is walled and down to grass with a charming stone built doo'cot (2.9 m x 2.9 m) with stone nesting boxes, a stone and brick lean to potting shed (2.5 m x 5.3 m) with a slate roof, and a well. The top paddock is also walled and in grass.
Location
Kirkside House enjoys an elevated and enviable position above the cliffs at the southern end of St Cyrus Beach and Nature Reserve. This part of the coastline comprises sandy beaches and red sandstone cliffs. As well as St Cyrus, other popular local beaches are found at Lunan Bay and Montrose. Away from the coast the range of outdoor pursuits is impressive. Fishing can be taken on the nearby North and South Esks, while golf courses are found at Montrose, Stonehaven and Edzell, together with the championship course at Carnoustie. Sea fishing is available from Johnshaven.
St Cyrus has a primary school and a village shop / post office. A wide range of shopping, business and leisure facilities can be found in Montrose including a new cinema. Mearns Academy in Laurencekirk provides secondary schooling. Lathallan School at Johnshaven is a well known local private school. The High School of Dundee and the private schools in Aberdeen are also easily accessible by train from Montrose. Montrose is an historic port, while Montrose Basin is a surrounded tidal basin and renowned wildlife habitat and nature reserve, famed for its spectacular sunsets and ever changing tidal flows.
The A92 coast road runs from Stonehaven to Dundee via Montrose and Arbroath, while inland the A90 dual carriageway runs north from Dundee to Aberdeen. Journey times to Aberdeen and its airport have been much reduced with the opening of the Western Peripheral Route. Aberdeen and Dundee provide all the services expected of major cities, and Dundee has renowned facilities including the new V&A museum. Montrose is served by the East Coast railway line with regular services to Aberdeen and the south, including the Caledonian sleeper service and fast trains to London. Aberdeen Airport has a range of domestic and international services. Edinburgh Airport is also easily reached.
Square Footage: 5,478 sq ft
Acreage: 3.7 Acres
Directions
If coming from the south on the A92 (Dundee to Stonehaven) coast road, continue north from Montrose. Cross over the River North Esk, the county boundary between Angus and Kincardineshire (or Aberdeenshire). Proceed for a further 1.4 miles, passing the sign for Mill of Criggie Trout Fishery, and then turn right onto the single track road which leads to St Cyrus beach. The drive into Kirkside House will be seen on the left after 0.3 miles.
If coming from the north on the A92 then proceed through St Cyrus. After 0.5 miles, and immediately after passing the wrought iron gates surmounted by eagles, turn left onto the single track road and proceed as above.
Additional Info
Detailed Internal Description
Stone gate piers, with wooden gates, open onto a circular drive which leads up to the house. Curved and arched steps rise up to a Doric columned and pedimented front door, partially glazed, with outer storm doors and opens to the entrance. An arched opening leads into the exceptional dining hall with seagrass textured wallpaper, fireplace with original carved wooden mantel and a Chesneys wood burning stove, panelling to dado level and parquet flooring. A curved door opens into the inner hallway with display shelves, parquet flooring and a cloakroom with gold leaf ceiling, panelling to dado level, Thomas Crapper WC with thunderbox, custom marble stand with hammered Catchpole & Rye brass washbasin and taps, and a wooden floor. The Lorimer wing is a truly magnificent drawing room featuring a high ornate ceiling hand crafted by Nathaniel Grieve, bay window making the most of the views, fireplace with carved wooden mantel with a Chesneys wood burning stove, dado rail, display alcoves with cupboards below, parquet flooring and further bay window overlooking the garden. From the dining hall another curved door leads to the kitchen via the servery which has two storage cupboards and stairs to the lower ground floor.
Off the hall is the new lavish kitchen with custom wooden units, granite worktops, Lacanche range cooker with a double extractor, pot filler tap, four ovens, five gas burners and a Plancha or Teppanyaki griddle. Tall storage cabinets house a larder unit with granite worktop and Quooker tap, large integrated Miele fridge and separate large Miele freezer. The central island with granite top has a breakfast bar, a V Zug dishwasher and a Kohler cast iron sink. There is a fireplace with a Chesneys wood burning stove, window shutters, parquet flooring and ample space for sitting and informal dining.
The panelled wooden curved staircase leads to the first floor landing which opens up to a custom built library and a generous walk in storage cupboard. The hugely impressive principal bedroom suite comprises a dressing room with picture rail, extensive custom fitted wardrobes and a fireplace. The bow fronted bedroom has windows facing south and west framing the wonderful views, window shutters, cast iron corner fireplace with wooden mantel and overmantel, and Ralph Lauren wallpaper. The magnificent en suite bathroom again has Ralph Lauren wallpaper, cast iron fireplace with wooden mantel and overmantel, a Catchpole & Rye bespoke marble wash stand with two washbasins, free standing Catchpole & Rye cast iron bath, antique armoire for storage, separate marble tiled Catchpole & Rye shower together with a separate WC with thunderbox. Also off the landing is the family bathroom with a tiled bath enclosed with shower over, custom marble stand with washbasin and a WC with thunderbox. A hatch with attic ladder gives access to floored roof space. Bedrooms two and three both have picture and dado rails and a fireplace with a wooden mantel.
Stone steps lead down to the lower ground floor where there is an original fully operational serving lift to the ground floor, a stone shelved cupboard and an understair storage cupboard. A study with a fireplace with wooden mantel has planning consent to be converted into a shower and sauna. The boot room / utility has a Belfast sink. There is a log storeroom and cellars including a former coal cellar, while the boiler room has a Worcester oil fired boiler. Off a passageway with a back door is a work room with Belfast sink, fitted shelves and plumbing for a washing machine, together with a wine store, larder with stone and wooden shelves, and a WC.
Environmental Stipulations
Kirkside House, including the garden walls, gates and doo’cot, are Listed Category B.
Access
There is a right of access past the side of the house to Straton House and Cottage to the rear. Kirkside House enjoys access to the courtyard of Straton House for fuel deliveries.
Marketed by: Savills, Brechin
Land Registry Data
- No historical data found.