In Georgian times the size of the coach house reflected the size and importance of the grand pile it served. Brookfield House is a converted coach house set in the walled gardens of Ballinacourty House in Castleconnell, Co Limerick.
Ballinacourty was home to Col John Ormsby Vandeleur, descended from a family of Dutch origin who were the biggest landlords in Co Clare. At 387sq m (4,164sq ft), the dimensions of the coach house, some parts of which are recent additions, give an indication of the importance of the Vandeleur family in the early 1800s.
Set on three acres of walled gardens with a sweeping driveway, the property is just minutes from Castleconnell, a quaint village on the banks of the River Shannon.
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The current owners, who have been at Brookfield for 30 years, refurbished the property to combine modern conveniences with old-world charm.
There are lots of living spaces in the house, including formal drawing and dining rooms, a library/music room, a study and a comfortable living room.
The house has a new kitchen in pale blues, with high-end appliances, a separate pantry and an informal dining area. The cobalt-blue music room flows into the study, both rooms sharing warm oak flooring. To the rear is a large bathroom, complete with sauna.
Many of the rooms have French windows with access to the wraparound gardens, which have been meticulously maintained. The front of the property houses a conservatory with a wall of red geraniums.
Upstairs, off a wide corridor, are four generous-sized bedrooms and the family bathroom.
Tennis court
Included with the house is an all-weather tennis court and some paddocks and outhouses, which could be converted.
While ceiling heights are low compared with those of Georgian houses, it has many period features, such as a sweeping staircase and a cut-stone door architrave.
It is for sale through Sherry FitzGerald O’Malley, with an asking price of €825,000.
