5 bedroom house for sale

Tenure: Freehold

Situation

Gayfield House is located on East London Street, which is particularly well positioned for all the amenities of the city centre with a wide variety of local specialist shops and restaurants on Broughton Street and is within easy walking distance of Jenners, John Lewis, Harvey Nichols, George Street and Princes Street. There is an excellent choice of cultural activities in the vicinity including theatres, cinemas and museums. Waverley train station and bus links to Edinburgh airport are close by. The open spaces of Inverleith Park, the Royal Botanical Gardens and Holyrood Park are within easy reach and the area is convenient for a variety of private and local schools.

Description

Gayfield House is an elegant detached villa with wonderful period charm. The spacious accommodation is arranged over three floors and benefits from some wonderful reception rooms. Of particular note is the stunning first floor drawing room with ornate rococo plasterwork. The property would now benefit from modernisation and an incoming purchaser has the opportunity to create a wonderful and unique home. Externally there is an enclosed garden to the south and west of the house.

The basement flat is in separate ownership but may be available to purchase in order to return the house to its full entirety.

Historical Note
Gayfield House was built in 1763 to meet the demand for a stylish country villa, within walking
distance of the reeking, over crowded Old Town of Edinburgh. The first owner was Thomas, Lord
Erskine, the eldest son of the Earl of Mar - 'Bobbin John', who had led the disastrous First
Jacobite Rebellion in 1715. In 1767, Lord Erskine sold the house to the Earl of Leven and the
Scots Magazine of the time records: "Marriage. June 10th. At Gayfield, near Edinburgh, the Earl
of Hopetoun to Lady Betty Leven."

A late 18th century print shows Gayfield House standing in attractive ground, surrounded by
fields and by orchards, bounded to the South by Leith Walk. The fortunes of the house gradually
declined in the 19th century as the city grew ever closer. In 1874, it was sold to form a Veterinary
College, and remained in this use for 30 years.

Accommodation

- Hall with elegant staircase
- First floor drawing room with Rococo plaster ceiling
- 3 further reception rooms
- Breakfast room
- 5 bedrooms
- 3 bath/shower rooms
- Walled garden and parking
- Basement in separate ownership, but may be available by separate negotiation

Directions