If the walls of this house could talk, what a musical story they could tell. For Burnside was the home of the late Jean Redpath, the internationally renowned Scottish folk singer who died in 2014, at the age of 77.
She was regarded as the definitive voice of Scottish song by millions of Robert Burns fans across the globe; performed alongside Bob Dylan and was a regular on Garrison Keilljor’s radio show, A prairie Home Companion. Her portrait hangs in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh in a section dedicated to Scots who have made a significant contribution to their country and their culture.
Brought up along the coast in Leven, she moved to the US at the age 24 where she built her musical career. Later, she spent a decade as a lecturer in Scottish folksong at Stirling University, as well as performing in venues across the world.
But her home in Scotland was Burnside, a charming end of terrace, double fronted house on The Toft, a waterfront terrace which is thought to date from the 18th century and to have been altered to domestic use in the late 19th century.
Situated in the heart of Elie in Fife, it has spectacular views across Elie harbour and the beach, and over the Firth of Forth towards the distant Pentland Hills. The house is traditionally built of stone under a slate roof with two dormer windows on the first floor providing excellent views.
To the rear there is a large walled garden which is rare for a property in this location. Also rare – and desirable – is that the house also has a garage and a generous private parking area to the front which provides great space for outdoor entertaining, whilst overlooking the beach.
The house has two ground floor reception rooms, both overlooking the beach and with gas fires. The dual aspect drawing room has full height fitted bookshelves and a further window at the rear. The dining room connects through to the kitchen which overlooks the rear garden. There’s also a utility room with a door out to the rear garden, as well as a WC and an under stair storage cupboard, both situated off the entrance hall.
Moving upstairs, there’s a half window overlooking the rear garden, two front bedrooms with large dormer windows, two further bedrooms, and a family bathroom.
Outside, stone steps lead up to a raised terrace area, above which is a garden largely laid to lawn with flower beds and boundaries, fully enclosed and walled on all aspects.
Harry Maitland of selling agent, Savills said: “This is just the sort of property people dream of finding, right in the heart of Elie, with the bonus of the garage and the privacy of the garden, plus some of the best views in Elie. The Jean Redpath connection is the icing on the cake.”
- Offers over £650,000. Contact Savills on 0131 247 3706.
