Wester Grange, Grange Road, North Berwick, East Lothian, EH39

West Wing of magnificent Robert Lorimer-designed home in central North Berwick with large private garden and sea views

Description

Wester Grange is an outstanding A Listed house dating from 1904. It was commissioned as a home for Lord Trayner and was one of Sir Robert Lorimer’s first significant private commissions. His distinctive Arts & Crafts style is seen in the exterior features of Wester Grange including low pitched tiled roof, plain harled walls and sandstone-mullioned windows as well as many interior features such as original brass door furniture, friezes and fireplaces.

The house was sympathetically converted into three substantial residences with Wester Grange forming the largest section and enjoying the main gardens. Wester Grange now offers a delightful blend of modern contemporary living within a period home and retains many of the fine original features including original fireplaces and mantels in the main rooms, decorative cornice and frieze work, wood panelling and leaded glass windows.

The accommodation at Wester Grange extends to over 4,600 square feet, and is arranged over two floors with the addition of a wine cellar and unique tower. The house begins with a bright and family friendly kitchen with attractive exposed floorboards, original shutters, painted floor and wall units, Lacanche six burner range cooker and space for a large central dining table for relaxed family meals. The utility room next door has fitted cupboards, a clothes pulley, washing machine and tumble dryer. Adjacent is a downstairs shower room and WC. A snug sits alongside the kitchen with an outlook to the south and an open fire for cosy evenings. The impressive sitting/dining room with stunning original parquet floors that continue from the corridor enjoys almost the full depth of the building on the west side. A raised parapet with window seating offers views of the gardens, while the dining space looks out to sea. The traditional open fire has an elegant wooden mantel and Arts and Crafts detailing. On the right of the fireplace a door leads to the garden via the segmentally arched loggia, while to the left a doorway leads into a study which is understood to previously have been used as a kitchen. Completing the downstairs accommodation is a ground floor bedroom and guest WC with wash basin.

On the first floor double doors to the right lead into the breathtakingly elegant first floor drawing room which displays ceiling friezes, an open fire with marble mantel, 8ft tall windows and a charming canted bay. Outstanding views over the gardens and towards the Firth are enjoyed from this room. The principal bedroom has a delicate ceiling frieze and mouldings, original fireplace and south facing bay window. Three further bedrooms are located on this floor and are serviced by a bathroom and shower room plus separate WC. A set of curved stairs lead down the round tower to garden level.

The tower can be reached from the first floor, leading to a second floor study, third floor library and fourth floor tower room. A final set of stairs leads out to the terrace at the top of the tower offering a wonderful vantage point for views across the whole of North Berwick including to the coast as well as south to the Law hill.


OUTSIDE
Wester Grange is accessed via a shared private drive through rusticated gate piers with ball finials and impressive wrought-iron gates and railings. There is off-street parking for several cars in front of the house along with a substantial double garage.

The gardens are registered in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes and extend to approximately 1.3 acres, facing mostly to the south and west. There are large terraced lawns to the west and north with a formal rose garden and rockery to the south and west. A wall runs the length of the boundary to the south and west, with planted borders and a bank of mature trees providing privacy and shelter. Several sitting areas have been created to make the most of the spectacular views across the Firth of Forth to the Fife coastline as well as areas that make the most of the sun all day, enjoyed from the south and west aspects of the house and garden.

Location

The Grange is situated in a central yet wonderfully private position within the town of North Berwick in East Lothian with the tower forming the highest point of the town. Unspoilt sandy beaches, shops, cafés, golf courses and a working harbour are all within walking distance of the property.

Crowned the overall winner of The Sunday Times Best Places to Live in the UK league table in 2024, North Berwick has become a thriving town with a reputation of having everything you need on the doorstep. The high street boasts a fantastic range of shops including a family run butcher, deli, artisan bakery, independent wine merchant, two supermarkets, cafés, bars and a florist. In the summer it hosts Fringe by the Sea which is part of the Edinburgh Festival, bringing world-class performers and authors to the town.

Both the local primary and high schools are within walking distance of the property and there are good transport links to private schools in East Lothian and Edinburgh. North Berwick train station provides rail services into Edinburgh, taking approximately 29 minutes and is reached via a private garden gate in approximately 7 minutes by foot, and in addition there are regular bus services to Edinburgh and Dunbar. The A1 is just a few miles away and is dual carriageway all the way to the Edinburgh City Bypass and also runs south to Berwick-Upon-Tweed and Newcastle.

North Berwick has two golf courses including West Links Golf Course and the Glen Golf Course and locally there is the renowned Muirfield golf club which regularly hosts the Open Championship along with The Renaissance Club; Archerfield Links and Luffness are also a just few miles away.

Square Footage: 4,607 sq ft



Additional Info

Viewings - Strictly by appointment with Savills - .

Services - Mains water, drainage, gas and electricity. Central heating provided by Worcester gas condensing boiler.

Access - The house is accessed by a private drive which serves the three houses.

Local Authority & Tax Band - East Lothian Council Tax Band G.

Conservation Area and Listing - Wester Grange is A Listed and is in the North Berwick Conservation Area.

Fixtures & Fittings - The mirror in the drawing room, rise and fall ceiling light fittings in the principal bedroom, study and snug and curtains are excluded from the sale.

Solicitor - Shepherd and Wedderburn LLP, 9 Haymarket Square, Edinburgh, EH3 8FY

Photos Taken in 2022 & 2025.