Ganly Walters is seeking offers in the region of £1.5 million (€1.9m) by private treaty for a former rectory in Enniskerry, Co Wicklow. The Old Rectory at Cookstown Lane is a substantial detached six-bedroom house on four acres of landscaped grounds.
The three-storey house, which dates from the 1870s and was once the rectory to Enniskerry church, will appeal to families wanting lots of space in a country setting, within easy reach of the city. Cookstown Lane winds its way from the main Ennis kerry/Dargle Road off the dual carriageway to the Powerscourt estate, and has some fine period properties including Dargle Cottage, the one-time home of Sir Basil and Lady Valerie Goulding and now owned by property developer Johnny Ronan.
The Old Rectory is almost hidden from the road with a long sheltered driveway winding up through the grounds to a gravelled forecourt in front of the house.
In front, the land slopes down towards a large area of gravel that was once a tennis court while at the side, a formal stretch of lawn provides an attractive lookout from the drawingroom on the first floor. An arched front door leads into the hallway, which is dominated by a handsome staircase. To the left is a book-lined study and there's also a cloakroom and toilet.
Guests are taken straight upstairs to the first floor where there are two formal reception rooms - one a drawingroom with a deep bay window overlooking a smooth stretch of lawn. The diningroom, an equally imposing room, has a fine black and white marble fireplace, and space to seat a crowd to dinner. Also at this level is a butler's pantry and a bedroom, with a further bedroom, study and office on an upper return.
The top floor has four bedrooms, all of them big bright double rooms, with the main bedroom having an en suite bathroom.
While the lofty ceiling heights, open fireplaces and period details are impressive, the impression is of a rather chilly series of rooms that will be expensive to keep warm. Hence the appeal of the lower ground floor kitchen, a wonderfully cosy room which, with the adjoining sittingroom, is probably where the owners spend most of their time.
The kitchen is a big airy room with windows on two sides, warm cream walls and an old double Aga cooker. Off the kitchen is a utility room and, via a small patio, a big studio room with its own front door, that could be a staff flat or a teenagers' den. The Old Rectory is full of character, and in a great location. Ganly Walters will be conducting viewings over the coming weeks with a tender date expected to be set for bids next month.
