AN ELEGANT MANSE WITH GROUNDS EXTENDING TO AROUND 6 ACRES WITH AN AGRICULTURAL HOLDING old manse, lumsden, aberdeenshire, ab54 4jl AN ELEGANT MANSE WITH GROUNDS EXTENDING TO AROUND 6 ACRES WITH AN AGRICULTURAL HOLDING old manse, lumsden, aberdeenshire, ab54 4jl Summary Ground floor: Conservatory u sitting room u drawing room library u dining room u dining kitchen u larder u laundry room boot room/cloak cupboard u study u cloakroom with wc and wash hand basin First floor: Four bedrooms u two bathrooms u shower room Bothy u potting shed u workshop u log store u boiler room EPC = F Distances Aberdeen: 35.5 miles Aberdeen International Airport: 32 miles Alford: 9.5 miles Directions In the centre of Lumsden look for the red phone box. On the opposite side of the road is a small lane signposted Hanover Court. The Old Manse is 100 yards down the lane. Location Lumsden is set between the foothills of the beautiful Cairngorm mountains and the north east Moray coast. The area is an ideal base for many outdoor pursuits being within 30 minutes of the Lecht Ski Centre and 20 minutes to Clashindarroch Forest and its cross country skiing tracks. The quiet country roads offer unrivalled road cycling routes with challenging mountain climbs and the area is home to the ‘Etape Royale’ annual closed road event. Mountain biking is also popular, with many miles of estate tracks and routes suitable for families and more experienced riders alike. As the principal town serving Donside, Alford offers an excellent range of amenities including a health centre, shops, banking, post office, filling station and hotels. Leisure pursuits are well catered for with a swimming pool, a dry ski slope at Alford Ski Centre and an 18 hole golf course. Visitor attractions include the Grampian Transport Museum, Alford Railway Museum and Alford Heritage Centre. The life size statue of a bull on the eastern approach to the town marks the area’s claim to be the birthplace of the Aberdeen Angus breed of cattle. On the edge of Alford is Haughton Country Park, a 200 acre park with children’s play area, walks and trails, a putting green and camp site. The surrounding hills offer wonderful walking and a wide range of field sports is readily available in the area. In the opposite direction is Huntly, a larger town, which is 15 miles north. Lumsden’s immediate surrounds include Clova, Mossat and Kildrummy to the west and The Craig to the north. Slightly further afield are Glenkindie and Towie to the west and Rhynie to the north. Primary schooling is provided at Lumsden School with secondary education at Alford Academy. History The Old Manse was previously owned by the family of the original occupant, the Rev. Harry Nicoll of the Auchidoir Free Church. The Rev. Harry Nicoll will be best remembered in church circles for building up the Nicoll Library. Extending to some 17,000 volumes, the collection has been regarded as one of the most complete Manse libraries in private hands in Scotland. It was recently donated by his descendants to the University of Aberdeen. The Manse became surplus to church requirements in 1890 and was purchased by the Nicolls. From the 1890s the house became the summer residence of Harry’s surviving son, Sir William Robertson Nicoll and his family. The house was enlarged and upgraded in Edwardian times. Robertson Nicoll’s exceptionally successful and high profile career as a leading churchman, popular author, founder and editor of periodicals such as the British Weekly, international journalist, literary critic and private advisor to Lloyd George, meant that he himself subsequently spent little time there. However, the house was a haven for the Robertson Nicoll children and their families, who in turn are remembered as esoteric pioneers in fields as diverse as neurosurgery, literature and anthroposophy. Since the 1850s the grounds have been subject to greater changes. Originally the glebe land was intensively worked to the extent that the family was largely self sufficient in dairy and poultry products, meal, potatoes and a wide range of fruit and vegetables. Resumed by local crofting interests for some years, the family re- acquired the grounds in the 1920s and a wide range of activities has since taken place there, such as tennis, domestic livestock grazing, experiments in bio-dynamic agriculture, horticulture and bee keeping. In recent years much of the area has been encouraged to develop into wooded policies and the present owner through careful felling and replanting has improved upon this with the environment very much in mind. Description Built of stone construction with a pitch slate roof in 1851 and extended in 1898 this home is a wonderful example of period living. Traditional features still exist with the high ceilings, ceiling roses, open fireplaces, ornate carved woodwork, wood panelling and internal window shutters. The ground floor configuration offers an Outside Home Report & Energy Performance abundance of entertaining space and living quarters with no less than A pillared driveway entrance is covered with stone chips and has A copy of the full Home Report and Energy Performance Certificate is five elegant rooms for this purpose. At first floor level are four good wrought iron gates. A mature woodland was planted in the 1940s, available on request. sized bedrooms serviced by two bathrooms and a shower room. elsewhere are extensive areas of lawn and a paddock. A large fish An agricultural holding is in place for versatile use of the 6 acres of pond offers an opportunity for more stocking and a French designed Servitude rights, burdens and wayleaves grounds. hen house offers a haven of protection for roaming hens. Already The property is sold subject to and with the benefit of all servitude in place is a timber shed with space to accommodate substantial rights, burdens, reservations and wayleaves, including rights of access Accommodation pieces of outdoor equipment. There are polytunnels alongside the and rights of way, whether public or private, light, support, drainage, A welcoming conservatory provides access into the main hallway with greenhouses and kitchen garden. In the summer, wonderful floral water and wayleaves for masts, pylons, stays, cable, drains and wood panelling. Flanked on either side are the two main reception scents drift from the rose garden. Alfresco dining and drinks can water, gas and other pipes, whether contained in the Title Deeds or rooms: a delightful drawing room and stylish sitting room which in turn be enjoyed in the summer house. A sheltered and enclosed rear informally constituted and whether referred to in the General Remarks gives access to the striking library with beautiful bookcases some of courtyard provides everything required for external storage. An and Stipulations or not. The Purchaser(s) will be held to have satisfied which are clad in a tartan fabric. A large bay window gives a wonderful elongated concrete building provides no less than four individual secure himself as to the nature of all such servitude rights and others. garden aspect. The focal point of this room is the ornate carved stores with a gardener’s WC, workshop, log store and boiler room. fireplace and there is additional access to the curved rear staircase There is a detached bothy with adjacent potting shed. Possession with decorative balustrade. More informal is the morning room which To be by mutual agreement. is currently used as a study and again features a fireplace. A large Services cloakroom with WC and wash hand basin has the plumbing connection Mains water, electricity and drainage. Oil central heating and airsource Offers for a shower. Formal dining is catered for in the dining room which heat pump. Partial double glazing. Intruder alarm system. Offers must be submitted in Scottish legal terms to the Selling Agents. benefits from twin aspect windows, adjacent to the dining kitchen. A closing date for offers may be fixed and prospective purchasers Fitted with an extensive range of pine base and some glass fronted Agricultural Holding Reference are advised to register their interest with the Selling Agents following wall cabinets, a feature of this room is the two oven Aga in traditional CPH No. 66/014/0075 inspection. Hunter Green. A walk in larder is ideal for additional storage. The laundry room completes the ground floor. This would originally have Fixtures and fittings Viewing been the maids’ parlour and still features a Belfast style sink. At first All fitted carpets, fitted floorcoverings, some curtains, lights and Strictly by appointment with Savills – 01224 971110 floor level are two large box rooms and an airing cupboard. There are bathroom fittings are included. four good sized bedrooms, all with feature bay windows. Although not en suite, a bathroom is opposite bedroom 4 and a further bathroom Local Authority is adjacent to bedroom 2, while bedroom 1 has an adjacent shower Aberdeenshire Council Tax Band G. room. floorplans Old Manse, Lumsden Gross internal area (approx): House: 344.10 sq.m (3704 sq.ft) Outbuildings: 74.97 sq.m (807 sq.ft) For Identification Only. Not To Scale. Old Manse Store Log Store Area : 6.222 acre Store Store Workshop 3.35 x 1.93 4.39 x 2.57 s 3.23 x 1.73 3.40 x 2.87 3.40 x 3.30 14'5'' x 8'5'' (2.518 ha 10'7" x 5'8" 11' x 6'4" Boiler ) 11'2'' x 9'5'' 11'2'' x 10'10'' Room WC This Plan is based upon the Ordnance Survey Map with the sanction of the Controller Larder of H.M. Stationery Office. Crown Copyright reserved. (100024244). This Plan is 1.93 x 1.88 6'4" x 6'2" published for the convenience of Purchasers only.