Unique East Lothian laird's mansion with bold interior design hits the market

Monkton House, six miles from Edinburgh city centre in East Lothian, is a prime piece of property unlike any other.

Now into its fifth century, the building features warm pink sandstone, with walls up to seven feet thick, dotted with gun loops and arrow slits, indicating the house’s history.

The front of the house. Picture: Square Foot Media

But stepping into the house is where things get really interesting. A remarkable Chinese-style drawing room is adorned with dragon wall paintings and a ceiling fresco, an elegant dining room boasts an ornate fireplace, and a sitting room is resplendent with 18th-century wood panelling. An extraordinary Expressionist-style bathroom is the final surprise on the top floor.

The Expressionist bathroom. Picture: Square Foot Media

Dr Zoe Bennett-Levy bought it with her late husband, Michael, in 1978. She relates: “The freestanding tower, the oldest part of the building, was built by the monks of Newbattle in the 15th century. The building was remodelled in 1610 as a house and Michael and I are only the seventh owners – we bought it from a chap who bought it in the 1950s for just under £300.”When the couple took over Monkton, Zoe remembers it being in something of a state: “There were 49 broken windows, and the garden was completely overgrown.“The electricity board came and condemned the electrics the first day we were in residence, which was fittingly the first of April, so we could only have one lightbulb on.”

An aerial view of the back of the house and the cottage. Picture: Square Foot Media

Michael was an antiquarian expert and Zoe, a pediatrician, recalls: “He was very buccaneering – unlike me his curmudgeonly wife – and he said, ‘We’ll knock this off in ten years’, but it didn’t work out that way.”Instead the work to restore the house took decades and is a remarkable achievement, considering both Michael and Zoe worked full time during the process, and the couple went on to have three children – the first born less than a year after they moved in.She says: “I can’t actually believe how I did it, but my friends do tell us we are bonkers family.”

The master bedroom. Picture: Square Foot Media

They all stayed in the house during the extensive work which was at times uncomfortable, especially during the difficult early years.Zoe remembers: “We slept in it from day one, and carried out a lot of the work ourselves. The first week, I filled 60 black bags with unspeakable things.”Having taken years to restore the fabric of the building, Michael took over the interior decoration. Zoe says: “He would come up with these ideas. He comes from an artistic family and next to him I’m a plodding medic, but I allowed him to have free reign over the decor.”

The dining room. Picture: Square Foot Media

Inspired by a visit to the Brighton Pavilion, he devised the Chinese room with a heavenly painted ceiling mural and fireplace dragon. Once complete, it was actually photographed for an exhibition in the National Museum of Scotland as a fine example of Neo-Chinoiserie. The bolection panelling seen in the room is rare, but it can also be found in the oldest part of Holyrood Palace.Michael was a leading authority on antiquities and Monkton was a chance for him to express his knowledge. His eclectic taste is an exuberant journey through the centuries-old history of the house.

The old kitchen. Picture: Square Foot Media

But it is by no means a museum, as Zoe also had her say. She explains: “I have three children and four grandchildren and my influence was to make it modern, comfortable and livable. A house has to run as a family home so it needs to be safe and comfortable.”The ground floor retains the original old kitchen but, in contrast, a contemporary galley situated on the first floor has sleek cabinets topped with granite.

The new kitchen. Picture: Square Foot Media

The garden, like the house, has been completely restored over the years.The B-listed cottage opposite is a very pretty two-bedroomed home which would suit multi-generational family living.

The detached two bedroomed cottage. Picture: Square Foot Media

Monkton is a special place which will be difficult to leave, but Zoe believes that they were only ever curators looking after it for future generations.“I hope someone else will feel the same way. I’m sure some people will say ‘OMG, these loopy people’, but as Michael said: “When we come to sell, it is a coat of white paint to someone who doesn’t like it.”Perish the thought.

Monkton House, Old Craighall, Musselburgh near Edinburgh.Category A-listed historic home with two-bed cottage in large mature grounds.Seven bedrooms, four bathrooms, four public rooms, old and new kitchens.Offers over £995,000, contact Savills on 0131-247 3738.