The Old Rectory at Coolbanagher in Emo, along with a courtyard converted into self-catering accommodation and a farmyard on 45ac, is on the market by private treaty with a guide price of €1.25m.
The house was built in 1790 and once had a visit from Queen Victoria.
During her state visit to Ireland in 1861 she is reputed to have taken tea in the drawing room and discussed buying Emo Court as an upmarket holding area for her son – prince Edward VII.
The property was bought in 1952 by a local farming family, the Deverells.
The house and its ancillary buildings were adapted to include a playschool, established in 1993, and a self-catering tourism business established in 1999.
The self-catering business includes a coach-house, converted into two apartments, and the formers servants’ quarters in the main house that includes three bedrooms upstairs with a kitchen, living room and sunroom on the ground floor. The entire property covers in the region of 6,200sqft.
The property is located off the Portarlington-to-Portlaoise road, 8km from both towns and only 2km from the M7 motorway.
The avenue which winds up to the house is bounded by mature trees on both sides and divides to serve the courtyard.
A small porch leads to an elegant hallway, while the drawing room is located to the right and a dining room to the left.
The Georgian reception rooms feature high ceilings, centrepieces, cornicing, ornate fireplaces and large windows letting in plenty of light, as both are dual aspect.
Accommodation
The accommodation includes seven bedrooms upstairs, of which four are for family use with access to two bathrooms, while three bedrooms over the servants’ quarters are part of the self-catering business and have access to bathroom facilities.
The main bedrooms are dual aspect with many attractive features including high ceilings and coving.
There are two staircases leading to the separate quarters. The bedrooms are mainly large, bright and airy, and in perfect condition.
The downstairs accommodation includes the two main reception rooms, a living room, a breakfast room that doubles as a family room, two well-finished kitchens, one for the family and the other for self-catering, two sunrooms, a guest WC and a utility.
The coach-houses include a two-bedroom apartment with a kitchen, living room and sunroom/breakfast room, while the one-bedroom apartment has similar facilities along with a mezzanine space reached by a spiral ladder that can be used as a bedroom.
Over the years, the self-catering aspect of the business has enjoyed 70pc occupancy.
Renovated
The house has been renovated, rewired and replumbed following a fire in 2007.
The gardens are well maintained.
The facilities also include the space used for the former playschool, which could easily be converted for office space; a farm office that could be added to the self-catering accommodation, and a two storey games-room with pool table.
The farmyard is made up of a range of buildings that include self-feeding slatted sheds with accommodation for 120 cattle, a three-column hayshed with lean-to, and a range of storage and machinery sheds.
The private treaty sale is handled by Sherry FitzGerald Country Homes and Christie’s.
SEE ALSO – 40 apartments in Portarlington sell for €1.5 million
