The Ridges is a stunning arts and crafts gem in the West End of Dundee that has been beautifully updated by its owners.
It’s located on Clarendon Drive, a private lane off Perth Road next to Harris Academy. There are only a handful of houses here, all well spaced out in their own grounds.
The B listed property sits on a gently sloping site with views through mature trees to the River Tay. A high stone wall shields the house from the Perth Road bustle, while plenty of green space and woodland makes you feel like you’re in the countryside.
Jim Duffy and his wife Lucy-Rose Walker bought the Ridges two years ago. At that point the previous owners had carried out some improvement works but there were still plenty of tasks to be done.
Jim explains: “We redecorated. We replastered most of the rooms. We added new sockets and extra radiators. And we got planning permission for a driveway and large parking area.”
Rich history
This is the second time the Ridges has been featured in The Courier. Five years ago it was put on the market for the first time in its history.
The house was built in the 1920s by Tom Lawson, who owned Tay Rope Works – a massive factory which stretched down to Magdalen Green.
The Ridges would remain in the Lawson family for almost a century. Tom’s grandson Derek Lawson put the Ridges on the market in 2018 after his mother passed away at the age of 99.
While it was still a very handsome house with lots of traditional arts and crafts features, at that time the Ridges was a little tired inside and in need of some attention.
Jim and Lucy-Rose have completely overhauled the property over the past two years. Today it’s an absolutely beautiful home that has been tastefully renovated in a style that has modernised the house while maintaining its traditional feel.
A high quality kitchen has a breakfast bar and an adjacent dining room that overlooks the gardens.
The Ridges has three reception rooms, all with views through trees to the River Tay. The first of these is used as a television room. It has a wall-mounted TV, an open fire, bay window, and comfortable chairs positioned for a night’s viewing.
Tranquil spaces
The garden room is a lovely tranquil space that is great for reading and relaxing. Meanwhile, the second living room has twin aspect windows that let in plenty of light. There are exposed ceiling beams and an open fire.
All three reception rooms have glazed doors giving access to a patio terrace. “We sit out here and have coffee in the morning,” Jim continues.
“It’s also a nice spot to have a glass of something in the evening. We put a couple of patio heaters out there so we can use it all year round.”
Standing on the terrace looking out through trees to the river glittering beyond, it’s easy to understand why the terrace is such a well-used spot.
Jim continues: “We’re both used to living quite rurally and the great thing about this house is it feels like you’re in the countryside. You’re just off Perth Road but you barely hear any traffic noise because of the high stone walls.”
Open fires
Both living rooms and several of the bedrooms have working open fires. “We had all the chimneys fixed and they all work,” Jim explains. “There’s nothing like a roaring open fire on a cold day. They add a lot of character to the house.” The ground floor also has a utility room, boiler room, pantry and WC.
A flight of stairs leads to the first floor landing and a hallway that stretches along the spine of the house. A guest bedroom at one end has an adjacent family bathroom. The enormous master bedroom enjoys beautiful views over the Tay and has an en suite bathroom.
Two more spacious bedrooms also have exceptional Tay views. The upper level also has two studies, making it an ideal house for people who work from home.
With more than 340 square metres of living space, the Ridges is a huge home. For those who want even more space there’s plenty of scope for further development.
“The attic covers the entire footprint of the house,” Jim explains. “You could put extra bedrooms in there or a games room or more living space. The possibilities are endless. The house already has more space than we’ll ever need so it’s not something we’ve looked at.”
Gardens and meadow
The Ridges has large gardens that wrap around the building and catch the sun all day. Across from the house is an expanse of land belonging to the house that the couple refer to as the meadow.
Its gentle slopes are home to mature trees and when I visit the daffodils are in full bloom. Jim reveals that the couple turned down a large sum of money to sell the meadow as a potential building site.
“We got a significant offer but we said no,” he says. “Sitting on the terrace looking out over the meadow and through the trees to the Tay bridges is part of the experience of living here. We wouldn’t want to spoil that.”
The meadow also provides a fantastic stomping ground for the couple’s beautiful Hungarian vizla Bella.
While the couple have completely modernised the house, they’ve kept its beautiful arts and crafts features. Doors and windows are original, as are cornices, fireplaces and beautiful wood panelling.
Jim, 56, and Lucy-Rose, 43, have decided to put the Ridges on the market. “We’re serial movers,” Jim smiles. “Historically two years has been our average in any one place. We really thought this would be our forever home though.
“We’ve decided to sell up and go travelling round the UK and Europe. I’m a pilot and I love flying so we’re going to do a tour of the UK’s airfields. Life’s short and we’re looking forward to an adventure.”
The Ridges, 458 Perth Road, Dundee is on sale with Rosie Fraser Real Estate for offers over £830,000.
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