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Knight Frank : Edinburgh
80 Queen StreetEdinburghEH2 4NFUnited Kingdom
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+44 1322 517802Edward Douglas
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6 bedroom detached house for sale
USD$31,913,021

Description

The Leys is an Arts and Crafts country house designed by the eminent architect George Walton and constructed in 1901. The house is believed to be one of his finest works, with the overall aesthetic and detailing influenced by the Glasgow School; it is a fine example rarely seen in the south of England. The early Edwardian style has been beautifully preserved and there are many fine character features throughout. The interiors retain much of their spatial integrity, with generous proportions, high ceilings and Crittall-style windows creating a feeling of light and space. The vast, double-height galleried hall displays wood panelling, a mostly original staircase and a handsome stone fireplace. Many original touches can be found throughout the earlier part of the home and the 1923 extension, including fireplaces, wall panelling and structural details. The house was the home of the esteemed photographer J. B. B. Wellington until 1939. Though much of the original character of the house remains, the interiors have been extensively renovated to an exceptional standard, offering a high level of finish. As well as the addition of impressive wellness and leisure facilities, the home has been upgraded with the expected comforts of underfloor heating, a full security system with alarm and CCTV, beautiful spa-quality bathrooms and a professional standard kitchen with premium appliances such as a Quooker instant boiling water tap, an AEG teppanyaki grill plate, Sub Zero American-style fridge freezer and a Wolf industrial range cooker. The interiors are beautifully appointed in a style complementary to the age and character of the house, while offering all the desired modern conveniences. The Leys is equipped with an array of wellness facilities to rival a day spa, situated on the lower ground floor of the home. The dominant feature is the beautifully imagined indoor swimming pool, which is inset within a large terrace featuring a seating area with wall-mounted television and an atmospheric gas fireplace; there is also a wet bar and concealed shower. Leading off the pool there are changing facilities and shower rooms, a traditional Finnish sauna and a Cleopatra steam bath. A therapy room provides the option for at-home treatments and massages. Set within a glass-walled room facing onto the pool is a professional-quality home gym. The village of Elstree is a Roman settlement which merges, on its eastern edge, with the larger town of Borehamwood in the county of Hertfordshire. Elstree has a number of day-to-day amenities, with more extensive shopping and leisure facilities to be found in Borehamwood, Harrow and Watford, all of which have stations, superstore shopping and high order services. Elstree offers excellent transport facilities with links to London and the north via Elstree & Borehamwood station, Stanmore station (Jubilee) and the A41, M1 and M25 all located nearby. London Elstree Aerodrome is only 1.2 miles away, London's closest general aviation airfield. Several excellent schools are in the vicinity including Haberdasher's Girls and Boys schools, Aldenham, Edge Grove, Radlett Prep, St Margaret's and North London Collegiate. Sporting and recreational facilities are well supported including Aldenham Country Park and Reservoir, where there is excellent walking, David Lloyd and Village fitness centres and golf at Mill Hill, The Hertsmere, Hartsbourne and Aldenham. Elstree is well connected to London, with the station at Elstree & Borehamwood having a 30-minute fast commuter service via Thameslink into Farringdon station. Watford has a West Midlands Railway service to London Euston in approximately 20 minutes, while Harrow & Wealdstone station is on the Bakerloo line for Paddington in around 20 minutes. For overseas travel, Elstree's Thameslink service connects to King's Cross/St Pancras for Eurostar services to Paris and onwards through mainland Europe. London Gatwick is about 90 minutes' drive on the M25, while London Heathrow is 45 minutes away.