Kaimoe is a distinctive house, being traditionally built in the 1920s, but in a combination of pink and grey granite, rather than the more usual single granite colour.
A deceptively spacious house, set originally in two acres of woodland, it was built for the two spinster daughters of a tea planter returning from his career in India. Mysteriously, instead of living with his daughters, he chose to live for the rest of his life in the Station Hotel, a 10-minute walk away.
On the death of the two, by then very elderly, ladies, in the 1970s, Kaimoe was purchased by Robert and Isobel Neish, who owned both a supermarket and a furniture shop in Peterhead.
Eighteen years later, by then a widow, Mrs Neish found the property too large for her alone, but was unwilling to leave a home which was private and quiet, while still being so close to local amenities.
Her solution was to retain almost an acre of woodland to ensure her privacy and have a smaller granite house built next door, also using high-quality traditional building methods.
This coincided with the early retirement of the present owner, Margaret Anderson, and her late husband Robert – or Bob – Anderson. Formerly beef cattle, sheep and arable farmers from Cairnlob of Lonmay, they took early retirement in 1987, and settled quickly into their new lifestyle.
“Having been both an NFU assessor and chairman of Buchan Meat Producers, in addition to farming around 400 acres, my husband was perhaps unprepared for retirement,” Margaret said.
“In fact, he tired of decorating and learning to play golf within six months and rented Littlemill and Mosspark Farms from the Esslemont Estate, farming them – as he said – as a hobby for seven years until full retirement appealed more.
“It was incredibly fortunate this second and final retirement happened just prior to the foot and mouth outbreak which decimated farming communities throughout the UK.”
Throughout her 27 years of living at Kaimoe, Margaret has regularly played host to her four adult children and their partners who, during this time, have lived as far afield as the west coast of America, Spain, London, Houston, Doha, Singapore and Norway.
With her son now living locally, she has decided to downsize to a property which neighbours his house in Oldmeldrum.
She said: “This now leaves Kaimoe looking for new owners who will enjoy living in a spacious, gracious home. As the children of all the owners to date were grown up, it would be lovely to think that the house might be home to young children, who can spend many happy hours discovering all the hidey-holes that my grandchildren have played in over the years. They actually call the house ‘the Tardis’, as it
is so much larger in reality than it looks in photographs.”
Outside, too, there is space and grace, with woodland and shrubs to the front screening the house from Craigs Road, and lawn and woodland to the rear.
The site extends to around an acre, mainly in low-maintenance borders and woods. Behind the back garden is the Scout Hut, which ensures that houses will never be built on this land.
Kaimoe is currently on the market with Storie, Cruden and Simpson, and has had a significant price reduction.
“Given the current economic climate, I have reluctantly decided to lower the price by £50,000 to £575,000 and hope that this will bring it into the price bracket for families looking for a marvellous home,” Margaret added.
“After all, which child would fail to enjoy playing ball in a corridor measuring roughly 34ft long, and 14ft wide at its widest point?”
THE HOUSE
Kaimoe, 18 Craigs Road, Ellon
Inside: Lounge, dining kitchen, dining room, utility room, master bedroom with en suite shower room, five bedrooms, family bathroom.
Outside: Garage, gardens at front and back of the house, shared tarred drive and large gravelled parking area.
Offers over £575,000
Contact: Storie, Cruden and Simpson on 01224 589002.