To the manor born: stately home for sale in East Lothian

With stables, 14 acres of land, tennis courts, orchard and woodlands, it is easy to see why this charming home would be the stuff of dreams.

Beech Hill is a residential estate, which has been in the sellers' family for almost 100 years, and is now on the market with Galbraith for offers over £900,000.

A fire destroyed the original Georgian building in the 1940's, and the existing house was designed by Lindsay Jamieson in 1952 and built the following year.

It is of harled construction under a slate roof and enjoys the unusual benefits of a comfortable, 20th century home set in the mature surroundings of a former mansion.

Picture: Beech House, Galbraith

The stables, walled garden and summer house which belonged to the original house, still remain.

Picture: the home has a walled garden, Galbraith

The property consists of six bedrooms, three bathrooms, a hall, modern kitchen, butler's pantry, dining room, study and cloakroom.

Picture: the living room, Galbraith

The estate, which is around 14 acres, is home to a traditional stable yard and outbuildings, two two-bedroom cottages (a lodge cottage and stables cottage), walled garden, woodland, pond and two fields.

Picture: the property has approx 14 acres of land, Galbraith

The oak front door, which is situated on the north side of the building, leads to a spacious reception hall off which are the drawing room, dining room and study.

Both the drawing room and the dining room have bay windows the provide uninterrupted views over the grounds to the Lammermuirs beyond.

Picture: the kitchen, Galbraith

The kitchen is located at the east end of the ground floor and includes fitted wooden cabinets rescued from the original house and a four oven Aga stove.

Picture: one of the bedrooms, Galbraith

All the bedrooms are found on the first floor and include the master bedroom with en suite bathroom, four double bedrooms and a single bedroom, and two further bathrooms.

Particular features of the house are the hardwood floors on the ground floor and the extensive storage space on both floors.

Picture: the stable yard, Galbraith

The original stable yard lies to the east of the house and is built of local stone under slate roofs. These useful and attractive buildings include the following: Former stables (with hay loft above), double garage, a studio above the garage, a hen run, a workshop, a wood feed and machinery stores and an apple store -adjacent to Stables Cottage.

Picture: one of the cottages, Galbraith

Stables Cottage forms part of this range and comprises a sitting room, kitchen, two bedrooms and a bathroom arranged over two floors.

It has full double glazing and LPG fired central heating. It is currently let on a Short Assured Tenancy.

Picture: the lodge cottage

The Lodge Cottage stands guard at the entrance of the driveway to Beech Hill and includes a sitting room, kitchen, two bedrooms and bathroom arranged on the ground floor.

It has oil fired central heating and it is also let.

The gardens and grounds surrounding Beech Hill house extend in total to about 14 acres and divided into three principal areas.

To the north is a gravel sweep and lawns. To the south there are further extensive lawns and a terrace in front of the house - perfect for sunny summer days.

To the west the walled garden, which has been carefully planted and restored by the sellers, is stocked with herbaceous plants, shrubs, specimen trees and fruit trees including fig, cherry, apple and plum.

The summer house or tower in the northwest corner of the wall is particularly charming and will no doubt be enjoyed by the new owners.

Picture: Beech House, Galbraith

The pond is situated in the field which lies to the south of the house. It is a haven for ducks, other wildlife and aquatic plants.

The field is currently sown out in grass and together with the field lying to the north of the house, is ideal for grazing horses and other livestock.

Both enclosures require stock proof fencing, and are currently registered as forming part of an agricultural holding. Further details are available from the selling agents.

Picture: the gardens have been well maintained, Galbraith

The woodland comprises mature and young trees and includes the millennium plantation lying to the north of the house, an apple orchard, and regenerating birch woodlands. There is a former tennis court near the orchard.

Beech Hill is situated about 3 miles south of Haddington and about 22 miles east of Edinburgh.

There are excellent local shops and pubs in the delightful village of Gifford, while Haddington, North Berwick and Dunbar provide a wider range of everyday shops, supermarkets and services.

The A1 allows easy access by car to the north and south, there are regular commuter rail services to Edinburgh from Longniddry and Drem and regular direct trains to London from Dunbar. Edinburgh Airport is 31 miles away to the west.