THE former home of a famous East Lothian inventor has been put on the market for almost £900,000.

Houston Mill, at East Linton, a 17th-century, grade B listed watermill and home, was the former home of Andrew Meikle, who also has a street in the village named in his honour.

Andrew Meikle, who was born in 1719, was known for inventing the threshing machine, a device used to remove the outer husks from grains of wheat.

He also invented windmill spring sails in 1772, which replaced the simple canvas designs previously used with sails made from a series of shutters that could be operated by levers.

Credited with inspiring John Rennie to become a noted civil engineer, whose creations include the Lune Aqueduct and Waterloo Bridge, his legacy lives on and his work was honoured in 2011 when he became one of seven inaugural inductees to the Scottish Engineering Hall of Fame.

Chris Thorman and Professor Natalie Waran, the present owners of Houston Mill – which is on the market for offers over £890,000 – bought the property in June 2011 and have significantly upgraded it over the last five years.

The accommodation is set over two floors and includes five bedrooms and several reception rooms, with a kitchen and family room at the centre of the home.

The property offers facilities for horses, including a stable block with three loose boxes and separate tack room, an outdoor arena and a barn with several secure rooms and workshops.

Jamie McNeill, head of residential sales at CKD Galbraith’s Edinburgh office, said: “Houston Mill offers the opportunity to acquire a prime East Lothian property which offers all the benefits of rural living, combined with the convenience of local village amenities and easy access into Edinburgh.”

For more details, call 0131 240 6960.