Former Tory MSP Ted Brocklebank's £1.25m St Andrews home

Abbey House is an elegant three-storey home in a peaceful enclave just steps from the heart of St Andrews.

Since it was built 10 years ago it’s been home to former journalist and Conservative MSP Ted Brocklebank and his wife Frances.

Ted and Frances Brocklebank in their courtyard garden at Abbey House. Image: Jack McKeown.

Abbey House sits at the end of a row of 13 Georgian-style properties built in 2015 by Robertson Homes. Ted and Frances were its first owners.

They form part of a development of homes set in peaceful landscaped grounds that are just a few moments away from St Andrews’ bustling South Street.

Abbey House is in central St Andrews. Image: Rettie.

“The houses are modelled on Edinburgh’s New Town,” Ted explains. “They have similar proportions and layouts. The garage on the other side of the courtyard mimics the stables that the New Town has, most of which are now mews houses.”

Inside Abbey House

Pillars surround the front door which opens into a welcoming foyer. The open plan sitting room/kitchen is divided into distinct spaces by a central island.

Handleless cabinetry and polished worktops give the room an elegant and contemporary feel. Two sets of double doors open to the courtyard garden.

Abbey House has accommodation over three floors. Image: Rettie.

A dining room can also be used as a ground floor bedroom. There’s also a utility room and a spacious WC that can easily be altered to become a shower room.

First floor living room

The main living room is on the first floor. It has a bank of three windows overlooking the garden and another window on the gable wall. There are two bedrooms on the first floor – one of which is used as a home office – and a shower room.

The kitchen/sitting room has doors to the garden. Image: Rettie.

The master bedroom is on the top floor. It has pleasant views from its south-east facing windows. There is a dressing room as well as an en suite shower room. Two more double bedrooms and a family bathroom complete the accommodation.

The living room is on the first floor. Image: Rettie.<span style="color: #444444;font-family: Arial, sans-serif;font-size: 16px">.</span>

Another view of the living room. Image: Rettie.

The courtyard garden has sandstone paving, decorative bark and pretty borders.

It is a sheltered suntrap on the bright but breezy June day I’m visiting. Ted, Frances and I sit around the table enjoying diet coke and a slice of homemade cake.

The house is inspired by Georgian architecture. Image: Rettie.

“We’ve had a lot of good gatherings in this house,” Ted says. “The best ones are where people spill out from the kitchen into the courtyard.”

On the other side of the courtyard is a detached double garage that could – with planning permission – easily be converted into an annex cottage.

Brocklebank’s background

Both Ted and Frances have deep ties to St Andrews and East Fife. Ted can trace his mother’s side of the family back to Nancy Ainslie in 1737.

Meanwhile, Frances’ late father Archie Finlay was a talented footballer, playing for St Andrews United Junior Football Club, Dunfermline Athletic, and East Fife.

There’s a lovely courtyard garden. Image: Rettie.

Ted, 82, worked for DC Thomson from 1960-63 and helped put out the first issue of the comic Commando. After a few years in London he returned to Scotland where he began a 25-year career with Grampian Television.

He became the head of news and set up a documentaries division, which he also spearheaded.

After Grampian was bought by STV he left to set up his own firm, Greyfriars Production.

The double garage is inspired by Edinburgh’s mews stables. Image: Rettie.

Ted twice stood unsuccessfully for the North East Fife constituency before being elected as a Conservative MSP through the regional list for Mid Scotland and Fife in 2003. He served two terms, becoming rural affairs spokesman, and left politics in 2011 after falling out with David Cameron over fisheries policy.

Having missed out on a higher education as a young man, Ted studied History and English at St Andrews University, graduating in 2017 at the age of 75. “I was older than my professors,” he smiles.

Selling Abbey House

Ted’s two sons are both in their late 50s. His eldest, Andrew, is a solicitor in Aberdeen, while his younger son Jonathan followed his father into journalism and is the chief features writer for the Scottish Daily Mail.

Frances’ daughter Sarah is 29 and lives in London.

When I visit Abbey House, Frances, 60, is enjoying her first day of retirement. The solicitor wrapped up her career at the Fife Law Centre, where she helped people who can’t afford to pay for a lawyer.

Ted and Frances have decided it’s time to move on. Image: Jack McKeown.

Ted is waiting for a knee replacement and requires a little bit of assistance from Frances. “With Ted’s knee and us moving house I decided the time was right to stop working,” she says, “Although I might go back to work in the future.”

After almost a decade at Abbey House the couple have decided it’s time to sell up.

The time has come to say farewell to Abbey House. Image: Rettie.

“Climbing 29 stairs is no fun with a dodgy knee,” Ted says. “And it’s far too big for just the two of us. We’re going to come down in a size but we want to stay in St Andrews.

“It’s been a fantastic house for us. We’ve got a lot of good memories of family gatherings and parties with friends.”

Abbey House, 13 Orchard Row, St Andrews is on sale with Rettie for offers over £1,250,000.