Craigesk House in Midlothian is a beautiful C-listed house, dating from 1820 and sitting on an elevated site with dramatic views over the River South Esk and the Dalhousie Viaduct, close to Eskbank. It was built originally for the owner of a local paper mill.
But its historical connections go much further back, and the story of the house – which has probably only ever been owned by three families – is a fascinating one.
A catastrophic fire ripped through Craigesk on the night of 10 December, 1929, shortly after electricity had been installed for the first time, according to current owners Charles and Jacqueline Court-Brown.
Jacqueline says: “We understand that it then lay derelict till it was sold to the next owners, in 1932, who largely rebuilt it.”
In doing so, much of the interiors have come from other great houses. Charles explains: “Our drawing room has wood panelling that might be 350 years old, as it was taken from Douglas Castle, known as the Castle of the Black Douglas in Lanarkshire, home to the Douglas-Humes, which was demolished in 1938.”
In the 1960s, Craigesk was divided by its then owners into three flats, and the building retained this layout until it was sold, as a whole, to Charles and Jacqueline in September 1985.
5. Craigesk House, near Dalkeith, Midlothian offers over £1.3m
Inside, a breakfasting kitchen leads on to one of two conservatories, and the ground floor also has a dining room, drawing room, study and living room. The first floor has four bedrooms and a dressing room, while a two bedroom flat with sitting room and study is on the lower ground floor. The home’s gym, sauna, wine cellar and library are at basement level. Photo: contributed
![Along the way, the Court-Browns have taken the example of previous owners and added fittings rescued from other historic houses too.
Charles says: “A fantastic spiral staircase [to the first floor] was fitted 20 years ago, and comes from an old Catholic Girls School in Galashiels.”](https://www.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOmI2MTA2MzA0LTU3ZTUtNDA4My05Yjg1LTE4NzI2M2UzOWMxMDplM2E1OTM0ZS0yMzM3LTRkZjItOGZhNi0wNDQwNjk5MDQ1Y2M=.jpg?crop=4:3&trim=&width=800)
6. Craigesk House, near Dalkeith, Midlothian offers over £1.3m
Along the way, the Court-Browns have taken the example of previous owners and added fittings rescued from other historic houses too. Charles says: “A fantastic spiral staircase [to the first floor] was fitted 20 years ago, and comes from an old Catholic Girls School in Galashiels.” Photo: contributed
7. Craigesk House, near Dalkeith, Midlothian offers over £1.3m
Charles adds: “It makes an interesting house with its own unique character – we were really fortunate to have a superb joiner, Eddie Peden, who made things fit and look as if they have been here forever. He’s in his 90s now, but a master craftsman.” Photo: contributed
8. Craigesk House, near Dalkeith, Midlothian offers over £1.3m
Outside, the garden is landscaped with extensive lawns, mature shrubs and trees, as well as terraces overlooking the River Esk. Ornate lamp posts – salvaged from an Edinburgh pub – look so at home they are part of the house’s C listing. Photo: contributed