On the outskirts of Leixlip, just 10 miles from the city centre and surrounded by 1.75 acres of garden and bluebell-filled woods, Ryevale House wears its more than 260 years with a relaxed elegance and infectious, lived-in feeling. Selling agent Lisney is quoting a guide price of £1.6m (€2.03) in advance of the 15th May auction.
Built about 1761, it has light-filled, oval-ended rooms, a wide, central hallway and a sweep of granite steps to limestone pillars on either side of the front door. For all its seven bedrooms and four reception rooms, Ryevale is intimate, comfortable and the least intimidating of houses.
It is being sold along with 4,275 sq ft of stone-built, interconnected intercommunicating mews buildings in a courtyard to the rear. About half of these have been converted for use as offices while planning permission exists for the conversion of the rest to residential use. The coral-coloured dash facade helps prepare for the vibrancy of the decor and colours throughout the three storeys of Ryevale House. The library and drawing room, to the left and right as you come come in, are oval-ended and have views over the front gardens. The library has polished floorboards, four sashed and shuttered windows and one of several period, functioning, decorated wood fireplaces. The drawing room has a similar layout but with parquet flooring.
Through the arch there's a study and, opposite, a diningroom where the oval end has been replaced with a wall of windows overlooking a secret garden.
The everyday family living spaces are below stairs. The walls are mostly white-painted brick and stone, the floors red-tiled and what were once several small rooms have been made into a large playroom. Also at this garden level are a utility room, a shower room, wine cellar, stonewalled bedroom and kitchen/breakfastroom with a walk-in larder. The main bedroom faces the front and has a dressing area set into its oval end as well as a period fireplace. It shares an interconnecting shower room with another bedroom, which has views over the Liffey Valley. A second front bedroom on this landing has a cast-iron fireplace and fitted wardrobes while a rear bedroom has fitted wardrobes and bookshelves. Off an upper landing there are linen and box rooms as well as another bathroom. On the first floor return there's an en suite guest bedroom.
The courtyard leading to the converted mews at the rear has a Zen garden feel about its cream pebbles, stone pathway and sculpture. The architect-designed, modern office space, in what were once stables with a loft, have stone walls and are awash with light from large and small windows. This comprises 2,025 sq ft and a further 2,250 sq ft with beamed ceilings and timber floors that comes with planning permission for conversion to residential use. A separate drive swings away from the main, gated entrance to give access to this area.
Ryevale House was originally part of a much larger estate and over the years all but the 1.75 acres on which it now stands has been sold off for housing. It has Preserved Structure status and so is eligible for Section l9 tax benefits.
