Back in 1907, a Mr Gerrard commissioned a pair of villas to be built in the up-and-coming summer resort of Lundin Links. The architect was to be James M Thomson of 63 George Street, Edinburgh, who was known for his work on churches and tenements in Edinburgh and surrounding areas. A few years before, he had created tenements on Shandwick Place in Edinburgh (see small photograph) which were noted for their bay windows and symmetry. Echoes of this style would be designed into the villas for Mr Gerrard on Station Road, Lundin Links - two dwellings made to look like one unified building.
The villas would become known as the twin boarding houses of 'Roseneath' and 'Linksfield'. Much later, after a number of name changes and consolidation into a single building, this would become Peacehaven Old People's Home - which is how it is known today. The Seventh's Day Adventist Church bought the building in the mid-1960s, when they moved their Edinburgh retirement home out of the city to this quieter spot. They owned Peacehaven until 1993. The building remains a care home and has been extended on several occasions.
The villas would become known as the twin boarding houses of 'Roseneath' and 'Linksfield'. Much later, after a number of name changes and consolidation into a single building, this would become Peacehaven Old People's Home - which is how it is known today. The Seventh's Day Adventist Church bought the building in the mid-1960s, when they moved their Edinburgh retirement home out of the city to this quieter spot. They owned Peacehaven until 1993. The building remains a care home and has been extended on several occasions.
Below are the original plans for 'Mr Gerrard's Villas' (which are held at RCAHMS). Note the extensive gardens, with suggested areas for kitchen gardens and a bleaching greens. The gardens still remain important and in fact the BBC's Beechgrove Garden TV programme has twice visited the garden at Peacehaven. But who was Mr Gerrard? Find out in the next post.
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