Step back in time to a home fit for a queen
House nestling in a village within a city is reputed to have links with a legendary royal
WHEN you or I put our foot in it, there’s all hell to pay. When you’re royalty, well, you get a place named after you. And so to Pedmyre House i n Carmunnock, which revels in the fact that it’s the only true village left within the boundary of Glasgow. Just after the Battle of Langside in May 1568, legend has it that Mary Queen of Scots passed here as she fled the pursuing forces of the Regent Moray.
Stepping from the royal coach, the queen put her foot in a muddy puddle. This seemingly innocuous event was recorded as ‘Pedmyre’, translated from the French ‘pied’ for foot and the Norse word for a bog, ‘myre’.
But there’s nothing messy about the house named after this royal slip of the slipper.
Pedmyre House is a magnificent collection of properties, tucked down a quiet country lane in this quaint commuter village.
Don’t be surprised if a squirrel bounds across your path as you head for the elaborate gated entrance. A horse in a paddock nods a friendly welcome.
This is simply a preview of the wildlife that abounds at Pedmyre House, which faces fields categorised as an Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Deer regularly hop the fence and wander around the 2.5 acres of gardens. There are ducks and frogs in a delightful pond, though it has to be said visiting herons usually take care of the frogs.
Not far away in nondescript estates lie modern executive villas, with a wee patch of grass front and back.
For the same money, Pedmyre offers something of a mini country estate, with babbling brook, separate car port with fully equipped gym above, detached wine cellar, hot tub gazebo and summer house.
Oh, did I mention the house? The grand entrance lets you know you have arrived at a residence of note, the picture enhanced by the two porthole windows to the front.
However, the present owners prefer to use the kitchen door at the side of what is known as the West Wing.
This allows you to see the house in a progressive manner, beginning with the long oak-beamed dining kitchen with Aga and French doors to the garden.
The limestone tiled floor continues into the formal dining room, which again offers French doors to the lawns on one side and lovely views of the fields on the other.
Guests here must regularly do a doubletake when they are reminded they are just over six miles from Glasgow city centre.
Carry on and you will find the comfortable sitting room, complete with traditional fireplace. There is also a TV room on the ground floor – along with two bedrooms – before you are invited to ascend to what can only be described as majestic apartments.
As on the ground floor, Pedmyre House works on a corridor-style arrangement. Nowhere is this more dramatic than in the master bedroom suite which dominates the first floor. The bedroom is a sumptuous affair, big enough for a king-size bed with wall-mounted fireplace and seating area.
From there, you proceed to an elegant woodpanelled dressing area before you reach the bathroom suite with stand-alone shower, Vic- torian free-standing bath, double sinks, fitted cupboards and tasteful spotlighting.
Leading up from the dressing room is a narrow spiral staircase which opens up to the attic space. The term ‘attic’ does not really do it justice, as it is fully carpeted and has high specification wooden cupboards. It would be perfect as a home office, though it is at present used as a gym and storage area.
Peace of mind comes in the form of a perimeter alarm system, backed up by CCTV.
It might not be Balmoral, but it’s certainly fit for a queen.
Offers over £875,000. Contact Gaye Thompson at Nicol Estate Agents. Tel 0141 616 3960 or email gaye@nicolestateagents.co.uk.