Land for sale in Newton House, Insch, Aberdeenshire AB52

Stunning and attractively located late 17th century country house, beautifully renovated and refurbished.

Description
Newton House, a superb country property which is believed to date from 1692, sits attractively within its own landscaped grounds and has far reaching views to Bennachie. A delightful and extremely elegant house, its window bays were added in the 19th century and greatly enhance both the drawing room and the morning room. There is a date stone over the front door of 1779.

At the centre of the house is a stunning hall. Off this are the morning room and the drawing room which in turn links to the dining room. All these rooms are most impressive and perfectly designed for entertaining. The bedrooms are at first and second floor levels. The basement below also has its own entrance. At present it is used as part of the main house, providing an office, gym, studio and cinema room, as well as extensive storage. A two bedroom annexe, known as Yew Tree Cottage, to the rear of the house, has its own access from the courtyard.

The house and the gate lodge have benefitted from considerable renovation and refurbishment in recent years, including a new kitchen and en suite bathrooms, rewiring where necessary, re-tanking of the basement and upgrading the central heating. An ambitious programme has included bedrooms and bathrooms being refurbished, many with bespoke Clive Christian fitted furniture; the hall and kitchen have been panelled; the house has been redecorated along with new curtains, and the windows have been restored. The annexe has also been refurbished and the lodge has been completely renovated. The fountain in the garden was restored, together with fencing and other works around the policies. Since 2010, the current owners have refurbished the basement, installed deer fencing around the 'secret garden' and fitted electrically operated gates. More recently a new summer house has been erected, as well as new flooring in the kitchen. Having been executed to the highest standards, the refurbishment programme has resulted in Newton House being a most attractive house of considerable architectural merit yet at the same time fully modernised and thoroughly manageable. It is in exceptional condition, retaining its original character, so is particularly suited for both modern living and grand entertaining.

From the lodge a tarred drive leads over a bridge over the River Urie and up through the attractive grounds to a gravelled drive and circle at the front of the house.

A detailed accommodation description of Newton House can be found under additional information.

To the rear of the house is a pretty enclosed gravelled courtyard with a date stone over the gates of 1913 giving access to the annexe and garaging with a coal bunker and a log store. Behind the house is a range of outbuildings including two wooden garages with electric doors and concrete floor, wooden stables with three loose boxes, wood sheds and various stores.

Immediately around the house are some fine trees and rhododendrons, tennis court, a small greenhouse, a pond and paddocks to the front and side. The front paddock runs down to the River Urie. There is a pony shelter in the side paddock and a hen house.

The woodland has some fine trees, including American redwoods, and two important Pictish stones. One of the paths to the garden leads past these and some interesting wood carvings and statues. On entering the gardens there is an inscription in memory of Alexander Parkin-Moore, who restored the garden. It states that he hoped it would give pleasure to everyone and includes the words: 'Consider the Perfection of the Infinite Unseen'.

The garden is historically important with a distinctive design which was originally divided into four compartments (now three) by internal walls (on the points of the compass), rather than having an external wall. It is further divided into sections with clipped yew hedges, herbaceous borders, a series of three ponds, one of which has a fountain and lawns.

The gardens overall are a delight with sheltered seating areas and a new summer house. They are surrounded by trees for shelter and privacy.

The Lodge
An attractive harled gate house with a slate roof and an open plan living room / kitchen with a central stone chimney housing a Villager multi fuel burning stove. The fitted kitchen has granite worktops, fridge / freezer, Hotpoint washing machine, Hermitage Shanks Belfast sink, dishwasher and a Stanley cooker. Off a lobby is a bathroom with bath with shower, circular washbasin and WC. There are two bedrooms, one of which has an original fireplace with wooden mantel.

To the rear of the lodge is an enclosed garden, mainly down to lawns with some good beeches and shrub borders. There is a wooden garage. The Lodge is currently let under terms of Scottish Letting Professionals' Model Tenancy.

Location
Situation: Newton House is situated just to the north of Bennachie, a well known Aberdeenshire landmark with easy access to both Aberdeen and its airport, on the A96. Locally there is salmon fishing on the nearby Deveron, Don and Spey, together with golf courses at Insch, Alford, Huntly, Inverurie, Royal Aberdeen, Cruden Bay and the Trump International Golf Links.

There is a primary school and local shopping in the nearby village of Insch (2 miles) with secondary schooling in Huntly and Inverurie. There is private schooling in Aberdeen including Robert Gordon’s College, St Margaret’s and Albyn as well as the International School of Aberdeen. There are two universities and several colleges of further education. Gordonstoun is also easily reached.

The nearby A96 provides ease of access to Aberdeen and its airport which provides excellent links to London and other UK and European cities. The Western Peripheral Route has improved travel in and around Aberdeen, and provides a quicker and more direct route south. Insch railway station, on the Aberdeen - Inverness line, is easily reached and there are regular mainline services from Aberdeen, including a sleeper. Aberdeen provides all the services expected of a major city including business and leisure facilities, theatres, restaurants and a wide range of shopping.

Historical Note: In Gordon, An Illustrated Architectural Guide (Rutland Press), I A N Shepherd describes Newton House as a 'Gordon house of immense serenity and dignity, on a site of an earlier castle. Exceptionally tall and narrow, harled, three storeys, attic and full basement, with four widely set windows and a pedimented doorpiece reached up railed steps. . Important garden divided into four (now three) by stone capped brick walls.'

In The Queen’s Scotland, The Eastern Counties (Hodder and Stoughton) Nigel Tranter writes 'The fine wooded estate of Newton, with its splendid garden. . The mansion is a tall, dignified and substantial building . . Full of character, on a terrace site above the Urie meadows. . In the garden just east of the mansion are preserved two notable Pictish sculptured stones, about seven feet tall.'

Newton House is believed to date from 1692 and is built on the site of an earlier property which was known as Culsalmond Castle. The gardens were originally laid out in 1846 by Alexander Gordon, and were restored between 1946 and 1979 by his great grandson, Alexander Parkin-Moore. Historic Scotland includes the gardens in The Inventory of Garden and Designed Landscapes, describing the walled garden as 'an outstanding work of art, separated into a series of rooms and containing a wide range of plants. The wider designed landscape makes an impressive setting for the significant architectural features.' Between the house and the garden are two Pictish stones.

Environmental Stipulations: Newton House and the garden walls are Listed Category B. The Pictish stones are a Scheduled Ancient Monument. The gardens and grounds form part of a registered Designed Landscape.

Square Footage: 10,742 sq ft

Acreage:
36 Acres

Directions
From Aberdeen take the A96 northwards passing Inverurie. The lodge and the turning into Newton House will be seen on the right some 1.2 miles north of Pitmachie, and some 10 miles north of Inverurie.

If coming from the north on the A96 the drive will be found on the left, some 12 miles south of Huntly, and just after passing the junction with the B922 signposted Insch and Auchterless.

There are right to access in favour of the neighbouring farmer to get to the fields adjacent to the drive and the walled garden. Newton House has a right to access over the back drive past the farm.

*Please note that all distances are approximate

Additional Info
Details of internal accommodation: Front doors and a glazed inner door open to the impressive reception hall which has a welcoming open fireplace with marble mantelpiece, free standing Clive Christian bookcase, glazed shutters, staircase to the first floor and doors to stairs to the basement and to the kitchen and dining room.

The morning room has an east facing curved bay window with window seat, window shutters, open fireplace with marble mantel and wood burning stove, and links to the kitchen. The drawing room has west facing curved bay window with window seat and shutters, open fireplace with marble mantel and hearth. Doors open into the equally impressive dining room, which faces west, and has a fireplace with granite mantel and multi fuel stove.

The fabulous fitted kitchen, by Drumoak, has tiled splashbacks, granite and wooden worktops, a four oven aga in pale grey Pearl Ashes shade and a double porcelain sink. Fitted appliances include an American style fridge / freezer with water and ice dispenser, an AEG four ring ceramic hob with extractor above, and a Bosch double oven / grill. A central island unit has a sink, Panasonic microwave and fitted Bosch dishwasher, while a dresser has a concealed Phillips TV. There is ample space for informal dining. Beyond the kitchen is a boot room with tiled floor, Belfast sink, access to garaging and a separate WC with washbasin. The utility room has fitted storage cupboards, sink, Zanussi dishwasher, Maytag dryer, Whirlpool American Collection washing machine and a clothes pulley. It connects to the rear hall with a WC with pedestal washbasin. A back staircase leads down to the basement and up to the first and second floors.

The main curved staircase leads up to the first floor landing with a useful airing cupboard. The bedrooms, en suites and office are fitted with Clive Christian furniture. The magnificent principal bedroom is in the centre and has a fireplace with a carved wooden mantel, raised grate and granite surround, fitted wardrobes, dressing table, half tester bedhead and bedside tables. The en suite bathroom has a freestanding roll top bath, shower cubicle, pedestal washbasin and WC with vanity unit. Bedroom one also has a dressing table with mirror, bedside tables, fitted wardrobes, period fireplace with raised grate and wooden mantel. Its en suite has a shower cubicle, pedestal washbasin and WC. Bedroom three has a desk, wardrobe and bedhead, along with a cast iron fireplace with wooden mantel and an en suite with a freestanding roll top bath, pedestal washbasin, shower cubicle and WC.

A beautiful hanging staircase continues to the second floor. Here there are two further en suite bedrooms, an office and library (previously used as bedrooms five and six) and a timber lined WC with washbasin. Bedroom four has a fitted bedhead, side tables, wardrobe and dressing table and an en suite with a shower cubicle, pedestal washbasin, WC and dressing table. Bedroom seven has a fitted wardrobe and a desk, en suite shower room with door to the landing. The library has fitted bookshelves by Lethenty Cabinet Makers, and a walk in cupboard. The office is panelled to dado level and has fitted cupboards, desk and a walk in understair storage cupboard.

On the top floor are four attic rooms, formerly servants’ rooms. One retains an original box bed and fireplace, and another is used as an office / workroom.

Stone stairs accessed from both the entrance hall and the rear hall lead down to the basement passageway with stone flagged flooring, an external door and two walk in stores, one used as a freezer room. The original kitchen is now an office with an arched fireplace housing a wood burning stove, and a separate area with a Belfast sink. One of the two former bedrooms is now used as a gym with a wall mounted Pioneer TV. The other is used as a studio with a period fireplace. The cinema room has a fireplace and is equipped with a fitted Sapphire pull down screen and an Epson ceiling mounted projector. There is a bathroom with freestanding bath, washbasin and WC, a boiler room housing an Ideal Falcon gte boiler, a wine cellar and further cellars.

The annexe, known as Yew Tree Cottage, can be accessed from the rear hall in the house and has its own entrance from the courtyard. The open plan living room/ kitchen has a fireplace with wooden mantel and French doors to a paved terrace and garden, which has a hot tub. The fitted kitchen area has wooden work tops, tiled splashbacks, fridge/freezer, Schott four ring ceramic hob with Diplomat oven/grill below, Sovereign cooker, dishwasher, Belfast sink and a washing machine. There are two bedrooms which are served by a shower room with washbasin and WC.

Outgoings