Upper Balcairn436 Blackness Road, Dundee, DD2 1TQ

Upper Balcairn, 436 Blackness Road in Dundee, is a magnificent property dating from 1885 to 1890 comprising the upper two floors, and thus the larger part of Balcairn, an impressive and exceptional example of the fine townhouses that were built in Dundee during the late 19th century. Balcairn was built in the Italianate Renaissance style for the city benefactor William Rettie, a well known grocer and merchant, who made it his family home until his death in 1922. It is attractively built of dressed stone with a slate roof and occupies a prime elevated south facing site. In the 1950s, Balcairn was cleverly divided into two. Upper Balcairn, an unusually spacious home of some 416 square metres, is perfectly placed to benefit from the views both up and down the River Tay and across to the Fife hills. It retains many interesting architectural features both externally and internally, being C listed and lying within the West End Conservation Area. With its own house number Upper Balcairn has a separate gated entrance leading directly off Blackness Road into an attractive private entrance courtyard. It also benefits from its own extensive grounds, including a side garden and a lower level garden, the site being about 0.49 acres in total. As such the property enjoys a high degree of privacy and seclusion. Internally, arranged around a central dining hall, are a series of beautifully presented and elegant reception rooms and bedrooms, along with a well equipped kitchen and utility room, and a nicely appointed family bathroom and en suite. Stairs lead up to a further reception room on the upper floor. With most of the accommodation set on one floor, Upper Balcairn has a highly practical and flexible layout.


Between 2005 and 2010 the current owners undertook an extensive architect-led programme of renovations and improvements, while at the same time preserving and enhancing the architectural features of the property. This programme included rewiring, including the installation of outside lighting, along with replumbing, and renewing the central heating including the installation of Rococo Classique radiators in the main rooms, and refurbishing other radiators. In addition the cupola was restored, and the large sash windows, which let in lots of light and make the most of the views, were restored and draught proofed. The kitchen and utility room were refurbished, as was the bathroom and en suite. A stained glass screen, by local artist Liz Rowley, was installed linking the dining hall to the kitchen. Internally there are many period features such as high ceilings with cornicings in all the main rooms, and picture rails in the sitting room, library and bedrooms. New wooden flooring was laid in the hallway, reception rooms, bedrooms and cloakroom. Externally new electric gates were fitted and the courtyard was raised and finished with circular cobbled parking, around a central fountain, which, along with wide steps up to the front door, creates a dramatic entrance to the property. Additional ground was acquired to enlarge the lower garden which now includes a most impressive summer house or garden studio. The garage, within part the original stable block, was converted into a workshop/studio.

As such, Upper Balcairn is a most imposing property of great character, occupying one of the finest sites in Dundee, now a fabulous family home and also ideal for entertaining.

From the courtyard, steps lead up to double oak entrance doors, partially glazed with leaded stained glass panels, which open to a vestibule with a mosaic tiled floor. A hallway has two wall lights and opens through to an impressive and spacious dining hall, with an ornamental wall mirror, crystal chandelier, five wall lights, staircase to the upper floor, and a walk in cupboard. The very fine sitting room, which is double aspect so benefitting from views both across and up the river, has an open fireplace with marble mantel (with connection for a living flame gas fire, if wanted), crystal chandelier, five wall lights, four picture lights and recessed shelves. Adjacent is a library, again another fine room which has previously been used as a bedroom, and has nine wall lights, three picture lights and a fireplace with marble mantel and living flame gas fire. Opposite is the fabulous kitchen with leaded internal windows. The fitted John Lewis kitchen incorporates high and low level units, granite worktops, Miele dishwasher, one and a half bowl sink, Lacanche Cote d'Or range cooker with gas hob and extractor, Siemens fridge, limestone tiled flooring and ample space for informal dining. This leads through a John Lewis larder to a utility room, again with fitted John Lewis units with granite worktops, Miele dryer and washing machine, sink, clothes pulley, shelved cupboard and limestone tiled flooring.

The principal bedroom is also south facing and double aspect, so has views both across and down the river, along with four wall lights, three picture lights, fireplace with marble mantel and living flame gas fire, and a partially tiled en suite with a period rib cage and waterfall shower cubicle, corner washbasin with vanity unit and WC. Bedroom 2 has three wall lights and wardrobes. Off a side hallway is a sizeable, tiled family bathroom with a freestanding bath, shower with wet room flooring, two washbasins inset into a marble topped vanity unit, bidet, WC, four wall lights and limestone tiled flooring, while bedroom 3 has four wall lights. Also off the dining hall is bedroom 4, currently used as a study with two wall lights and views up the river as does the adjoining cloakroom/office, which has previously been used as a bedroom.

A period pine staircase leads up to the upper floor where a spacious music room, which has been previously been used as a living room and an office, is lit by a large cupola and a generously sized bay window with views up the river, and has seventeen wall lights, wall mounted Panasonic TV, fireplace with a gas stove, along with two side stores, one giving access to roof space and the other to a floored attic housing two wall mounted Worcester boilers. Under the utility room is an outside accessed store/cellar.

To one side of the courtyard, forming part of the original stable block, is the studio/workshop with a workbench, shelves, sink with hot and cold water, power and light, insulated floor and tri-folding doors, behind a wooden sliding door. Adjacent is a bin and log storage area. Steps from the courtyard lead down to a raised paved circular terrace, again with a fountain, and a productive crab apple tree and fuchsias, creating a lovely spot in which to sit out. A gravelled path leads down through a side garden to a further paved seating area, and to a raised wooden walkway and on to the lower garden with a lawn, yew hedge, and a sizeable, insulated wooden summerhouse/garden studio. This comprises a studio/games room with a sprung maple floor, mirrored wall and a wall mounted Samsung TV; a store with a cupboard; a shower room with storage, washbasin and WC; and a kitchen with units with sink, Bosch dishwasher and under counter fridge/freezer, and Panasonic microwave. Outside are paved seating areas, making this an ideal spot for entertaining. There is a wooden garden shed.

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