Page 14 THE BSPC PROPERTY GUIDE / FEATURE PROPERTY

Although it was the post office that initially enticedpresent owner Frances Baillie and her husband Alec toview the property in 1998, it was the house that sealedthe deal.

Frances explains: “Living in a modern house inEdinburgh at the time, we fell in love with the characterand charm of the property’s living space, particularlythe sitting room and family/dining room, both of whichhave bay windows, original fireplaces and cornicing.In addition, the post office presented an ideal workopportunity for Alec, who had taken early retirementfrom teaching,”

This home has many admirable features – the sittingroom has a white marble fireplace with open fire andsanded original wood floor; the family/dining roomhas a stone fireplace and working chimney; and thekitchen, which also has a sanded original wood floor, isfitted with wooden units, built-in oven and hob (spacefor other appliances), and includes a dining alcove.

Three of the bedrooms have attractive combed ceilingsand original fireplaces (for decoration only, not workingchimneys), while the two front bedrooms have dormerwindows – the pale blue and white top floor bathroomis notable also for its unusually large size.

One home – or two – and a lot more besides,

Only very rarely do you come across aproperty that offers as many possibilities asnumber 18 Market Place in the conservationtown of Lauder in Berwickshire.

In addition to being a substantial two-storey periodtownhouse with a wealth of original features, thisproperty includes an income-generating post office andretail outlet, large walled rear garden, two doublegarages (one of which houses the town’s Royal Mailsorting office) and a detached stone-built outbuildingwith plans for a conversion to make a two bedroomedgranny annex or holiday let.

Built in 1846, according to a date stone on theouthouse wall, the house on the two floors above thelong-established post office is entered by a side doorand staircase to two public rooms, big family diningkitchen and bathroom with over-bath shower on thefirst floor, plus four bedrooms and another even largerbathroom on the second floor.

THE BSPC PROPERTY GUIDE / FEATURE PROPERTY Page 15

Lauder’s Post Office building is a Borders gem

18 Market Place,

Lauder, TD2 6SR

Guide Price £310,000

Details on page 66

Outside, the walled garden is fabulous and large enoughto offer countless possibilities. Plans drawn up in 2005 toconvert the stone outbuilding into living accommodationare available – currently this building is used mainly asa store.

Which leaves the post office and shop. Ideally Franceswould like to see the post office continuing, although ifthat is not possible, Post Office Counters would instigatea change of premises - at present the post office is runby a temporary sub-postmistress who is willing to stayon, or remain in place until the new owner is able to takeover. Royal Mail, which currently leases one of the twogarages at the rear of the building for use as the town’ssorting office, would also have to relocate if the postoffice function was to cease.

It’s also worth noting that this property is in aconservation area and although the actual building is notlisted in its own right, there is a B-listed red telephonekiosk outside and a C-listed building next door, whichmay restrict changes or alterations to the front of thebuilding.

This is an exceptional lifestyle opportunity in a populartown only 20 miles from Edinburgh, one that offersa spacious four bedroomed family home, scope for aholiday let or additional cottage in the garden, ANDthe opportunity to work on the premises in a longestablished post office and put your own stamp on theretail side of the business.