Co Wexford: €2m The Old Deanery, a handsome eight-bedroom Georgian house overlooking the lovely old Co Wexford village of Ferns, is to be sold along with a range of self-catering facilities.
Agent Sherry FitzGerald O'Leary in Enniscorthy is quoting a guide price of €2 million for the property which stands on five acres of outstanding gardens.
The owners have spent a small fortune on renovating and refurbishing the house and developing guest facilities since buying it in 1996. The basement has been converted into three apartments while five traditional stone stables have been tastefully rebuilt and fitted out as high quality two and three-bedroom cottages. The fact that they have earned four-star rating from Bord Fáilte speaks volumes for the standard of the facilities. The guest accommodating can now bring in a handsome income for the next owners.
The main house, dating from 1735, was originally smaller but in 1812 it was given a five-bay frontage to enhance its appearance. It has always overlooked the ruins of the 16th century St Peter's Church as well as many of the ancient monuments in this old cathedral town.
The Old Deanery is approached by a long tree-lined gravel driveway past a small gate lodge. The house is entered through an impressive granite architrave doorcase which leads into a large and elegant hall.
Happily, the present owners have managed to retain most of the original period features including working shutters, timber floors, ornate cornicing, picture rails and old fireplaces. The diningroom has a terrific fireplace and two tall windows overlooking the gardens and lawn tennis court. The drawingroom with its "sunny buttery gold walls" has the original timber floor, open fireplace and three big windows focused on the gardens. The entrance hall also opens directly into a terrifically large kitchen complete with the conventional oil-fired Aga and Belfast sink.
There is also a utility room and office at this level.
At the half landing stage there is a quaint and quirky toilet with exposed brick and stone work. Further up there are five bedroom suites all with their own bathrooms, fireplaces and excellent furnishings. Three further bedrooms with bathrooms are located at attic level.
All five cottages in the grounds manage to recapture the charm of bygone days with a farmyard theme. They are known as the Pighouse, the Duckhouse, the Henhouse, the Cowhouse and Sheepshed. The accommodation is first class, including oil-fired central heating, log fires, open-plan living space and fully fitted kitchens.
"The Old Deanery offers an elegant home and a lucrative business with all the hard graft spared," says Michael O'Leary of the selling agents.
