Co. Meath, Ireland

The Ardbraccan Estate

In all about 88 Hectares / 218 Acres approximately

Principal mansion house • beautiful formal gardens with numerous specimenshrubs and trees • 4 estate cottages • private church (decommissioned) • wonderfulmature parkland • modern farm buildings

Mansion House (2,150 sq.m / 23,142 sq.ft approximately)

Entrance Hall • Great Hall • Stair Hall • Drawing Room • Dining Room •Library • Morning Room • Billiard Room • Kitchen • Pantries • Cellars • Laundry

Master Bedroom Suite • Bedroom Suite 2 • Bedroom Suite 3 • Bedroom Suite 4• Bedroom Suite 5 • Bedroom Suite 6 • 3 further Bedrooms • 2 further Bathrooms

4 Bedroom guest wing • 2 bedroom staff flat

Towns & Cities (approximate distances)

Navan town 4 km • Belfast city 138 km • Dublin city 52 km • Drogheda town 26km • Trim town 15 km • Kells town 16

Air & Ferry Ports (approximate distances)

Dublin airport 55 km • Belfast airport 160 km • Dun Laoghaire ferryport 72 km• Dublin ferryport 52 km

Viewing strictly by appointment only with the sole selling agents.

The Ardbraccan EstateNavan, Co. Meath, Ireland

For Sale Freehold by Private Treaty

An exceptional early 18th century Palladianmansion with its immediate estate intact,featuring glorious parkland, fine estate cottagesand attractive stone yards

20 Dawson Street, Dublin 2T: +353 (0) 1 663 4350F: +353 (0) 1 663 4398E: country@savills.ieW: savills.ie

Historical NoteThe history of this impressive 18th century mansion, seat of the bishops of Meath, began in the 1730's when building workscommenced to designs by Richard Castle for the then Bishop of Meath Arthur Price. Although surviving plans clearly show that atypical Palladian house with a large central block joined by curved links to kitchen and stable wings was intended, building works ceasedwith only the wings completed when Price was raised to the Archbishopric of Cashel.

These wings served as accommodation for successive, and presumably less worthy, bishops until the 1773 when Henry Maxwell, a younger sonof the first Lord Farnham and Bishop of Meath from 1766 to 1798 obtained a preliminary design for the completion of the central block fromJames Wyatt. The existing house, although almost certainly not by Wyatt, differs little from his conception and both Thomas Cooley and theRev. Daniel A. Beaufort, who both provided later and more detailed designs for the house and were undoubtedly guided by it.

Bishop Maxwell's successor Thomas O'Beirne carried out many of the improvements to the outbuildings, again advised by Beaufort.The aristocratic Bishop Nathaniel Alexander then carried out grander improvements to the outbuildings in the 1820's and 1830's,including the building of a linking tunnel running under the garden terrace to join the handsome farm and stable yards, out of view.

From 1876 Ardbraccan Palace and Park rose to their zenith as a diocesan centre. After this time they were found to be beyond themeans of the Diocese to maintain and were sold to a son of the Rt. Hon. Hugh Law, Lord Chancellor of Ireland whose family lived atArdbraccan House for several generations.

Ardbraccan HouseBuilt of Ardbraccan limestone (as used in Leinster House,Custom House and Castletown House) the mansion housecomprises three storeys over basement with the approach fronthaving a central Ionic door case comprised within a seven bayfacade and linked by curved sweeps to two rectangular four-baytwo storey blocks with hipped roofs and central chimneystacks.The garden front has a seven-bay façade with the three centrebays advanced and expressed as full-length windows on theground floor and set in round-headed arches. Inside, the plan ofArdbraccan follows the traditional double-pile layout: a hallflanked by public rooms, with the principal and service stairs inthe middle on each side and three rooms to the rear. Ardbraccandiffers from this style in that the large square hall is placed in thecentre at the rear, behind the vaulted vestibule. This allows theprincipal rooms on either side to be large rectangular spaces, eachwith 3 windows, rather than the more common squarearrangement.

The square ample proportions combined with the free yetrestrained treatment of anthemion and foliate motifs to thejoinery and plasterwork (particularly the bayleaf garlands in thedining room and the simplified and freely treated mutule cornice inthe stair hall) suggest the close involvement of Cooley. An elegantfinishing touch and a measure of the absolute refinement of thishouse is the curved inner edge of the mahogany doorsthroughout the ground floor, all of which operate on a swivelrather than a hinge. The kitchen wing had originally a two-storey kitchen to Castle's design with a gallery orwalkway to facilitate efficient supervision but was remodelled to provide additional accommodation, during the1970’s by a Colonel Foster to accommodate his convalescing sister. The stable wing, similar to Castle's work atStrokestown in Co. Roscommon, and to other stable blocks by him, is groin-vaulted throughout, the vaults carriedon Tuscan columns set on the deep round bases that are characteristic of Castle's architecture and derive ultimatelyfrom the bases of the minor order of Palladio's basilica at Vicenza.

Recent RestorationAt the time the present owners purchased Ardbraccan, the property had been unoccupied for almost 20 years and was in considerabledisrepair with many of the original fittings stripped or damaged. Over a period in excess of four years, the house, yards, gardens andgrounds have been authentically restored to notable Award status, by specialist craftsmen using traditional methods and, whereapplicable, salvaged materials from the UK or Ireland. Chimney pots were specially cast to match the originals, and roofs recoveredwith original slates, copper and leadwork. The site became a resource for training of craftspeople, including stuccadores for thedecorated plasterwork, specialist painters, master craftsmen for stone restoration and cutting, cabinet making, hand blown glass, boneand mother of pearl details, brasswork, pewter and papier mache detailing, mechanical bell systems and marble work. The parklandswere extensively drained, fenced and replanted with specimen trees.

South Guest WingOriginally housing Butler’s and Housekeeper's rooms and kitchens, it now provides comfortable and well proportioned guestaccommodation. Accessed internally from the main house or externally from the entrance forecourt or rear laundry yard theaccommodation comprises: hall, living room, dining room, study, kitchen, laundry room, 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, WC.

North Stable WingComprising the farm manager's or staff accommodation and principal stabling it can be accessed from the jointed curved and coveredsweep linking the main house or externally from the entrance forecourt or stable yard to the rear. The accommodation comprises: farmoffice, living room, study, kitchen, main bedroom with shower room ensuite, 1 further bedroom, bathroom.

Main HouseEntrance Hall: a vestibule with barrel vaulted ceiling of shallowhexagonal coffering with a fine Portland stone floor. A pair of mahoganyeight panel doors under a large elegant internal fanlight lead into:

Great Hall / Saloon: situated in the centre of the garden front withcornice mutules and elliptical panels over the doors, fine chimneypiece to the design of Sir William Chambers with large open grate,double French doors to garden terrace, restrained neo-Classicalplasterwork. Connects to the drawing room and dining room in theentrance front and with the library and small drawing room (knownas the Bean-Uasal) on the garden front.

Stair Hall: the principal and secondary stairs lie on either side of thesaloon. The principal staircase of cantilevered design connects with

the first floor and leads to a large landing, lit by an overhead elliptical fanlight. This area has finedecorative plasterwork thought to be by Wyatt and executed by the stuccador, Charles Young,later Lord Mayor of Dublin and whose other works can be seen at City Hall. Secondarycantilevered limestone staircase provides access to first, second, third and basement floors.

Drawing Room: with large marble chimneypiece after Wyatt with open, restrained neo-Classicalplasterwork.

Morning Room: (or Bean-Uasal / lady's small drawing room): with marble chimneypiece andrestrained neo-Classical plasterwork.

Dining Room: with marble chimney piece with open grate and consistent in design to that inthe drawing room, particularly fine plasterwork with decorative bay-leaf garlands, restrained neo-Classical plasterwork.

Servery / Kitchen: with range of fitted walnut wall and floor units with granite counter tops,integrated electric Dietrich oven with gas hob, Bosch fridge freezer, stainless steel sink, dumb waiter lift, spot lights.

Library: with marble chimney piece, original 18th Century fitted mahogany bookcases with handblown glass doors.

Cloakroom: with twin WC’s.

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

D

Drawing Room

Kitchen Dining Room Study

M

Hall

W

BasementBilliard Room: with open fireplace, polished oak floor.

Playroom / Butler’s Pantry: with open fireplace, strong / silver room with original fittingsrestored.

Kitchen: a wonderful large country kitchen with requisite Aga, extensive range of solidtimber wall and floor units with granite worktops, large island station with sink, electric ovenwith gas hob, twin stainless steel sinks, stone floor with large York flagstones.

Pantry 1: with fitted cupboards and shelving, dumb waiter /service lift to first floor, Yorkflagstone floor.

Pantry 2 / Beer Cellar: with slate shelving, stone beer barrel stands, brick flooring.

Wine Cellar: with 36 original wine bins, brick flooring. Separate store. Separate freezer room.

Laundry Room: with range of fitted timber cupboards, 3 Belfast sinks, plumbed forwashing machine, “Sheila maid” clotheshorse.

Boot Room: with boot rack, coat hooks, washstand with Belfast sink, fitted cupboard with electric fuse boards / segregation switches.

Cloakroom: with WC and wash hand basin. Stained glass window shutters in Boot Room excluded from sale.

Dining Room Drawing RoomEntranceHall

Library

Great Hall

Morning Room

Tack Room

Stables

Office

D

Main HouseEntrance Hall:Dining Room:Drawing Room:Servery/Kitchen:Library:Great Hall:Morning Room:

6.56m x 3.30m6.86m x 9.30m6.52m x 9.30m6.26m x 2.98m5.93m x 6.90m9.79m x 7.29m4.91m x 6.92m

H

West WingHall:Drawing Room:Laundry/WC:Kitchen:Dining Room:Study:East WingOffice:

15.43m x 4.70m5.42m x 6.43m3.45m x 2.09m3.13m x 5.40m5.30m x 4.80m5.41m x 5.51m

5.36m x 5.36m

Servery/Kitchen

Stair Hall

Kitchen Billiard RoomWine Cellar

Living RoomLaundry Room

Store

Store

BASEMENT FLOOR PLAN

Main HouseCentral Corridor:Living Room:Store Room 1:Store Room 2:Laundry Room:Boot Room:Kitchen:Wine Cellar:Billiard Room:Pantry:

29.72m x 2.25m5.64m x 6.87m3.93m x 3.35m6.50m x 3.34m5.20m x 6.86m4.31m x 3.00m6.74m x 9.24m6.49m x 3.29m6.74m x 9.26m4.31m x 2.90m

Corridor

BootRoomPantry

First FloorMaster Bedroom Suite:Bedroom 1: (overlooking parkland) with ornate Georgian chimneypiece and walk-in wardrobe.

Ensuite Bathroom: with fitted bath, separate shower, heated towel rail, spot lighting, and twin wash hand basins with storage cupboard.

Ensuite Dressing Room / Nursery Bedroom: with fireplace and fitted wardrobes.

Guest Bedroom Suite:Bedroom 2: (overlooking parkland) ornate chimney piecewith pewter engravings, cornice with fireplace

Bishop's Bedroom Suite:Bedroom 3: (overlooking the formal gardens) perhapsformerly the bishops reception room with 3 service bells,open fireplace, mahogany military chest with concealedwashstand, chimney piece, interconnecting door into:

Bedroom 4 / Bishop’s Powder Room: with ornatechimneypiece. Connecting door to Bathroom 2 andconnecting door to:

Bedroom 5: ornate chimney piece with pewter engravings,cornice, door into:

Bathroom: fitted bath, wash hand basin with storage press,heated towel rail, spot lighting.

Bedroom 1

Bedroom 2 Bedroom 3

Bedroom 5Bedroom 4 'Bishop's' Bedroom 3

Bedroom 1(Suite)

Bedroom 2(Suite)

B

FIRST FLOOR PLAN

Main HouseLanding:Bedroom 1 (Suite):Dressing Room:Bedroom 2 (Suite):'Bishop's' Bedroom 3:Bedroom 4:Bedroom 5:

3

West WingBedroom 1:Bedroom 2:Bedroom 3:Bathroom:East WingSitting Room:Kitchen:Bedroom 1:Bedroom 2:Bathroom:

5

Landing

Office

Ens

Ens

Ens

Ens

E

WC

Bath

B

Linen C/b DressingRoom

Bedroom 7Bedroom 6

(Suite)Bedroom 10

Bedroom 9(Suite)

Bedroom 8(Suite)

SECOND FLOOR PLAN

Main HouseBedroom 6:Bedroom 7:Bedroom 8 (Suite):Bedroom 9 (Suite):Kitchenette:Bedroom 10:

5.34m x 7.12m5.78m x 5.16m4.73m x 6.90m6.52m x 5.55m3.79m x 2.14m6.18m x 5.55m

Kitch-enette

Light Well

Hall

EnsEns

Ens

Sh/rm

droom 3

B

Bedroom

Bedroom

Loft

Sitting Room

F

Main HouseLanding:Bedroom 1 (Suite):Dressing Room:Bedroom 2 (Suite):'Bishop's' Bedroom 3:Bedroom 4:Bedroom 5:

3.72m x 7.32m6.51m x 5.94m6.51m x 3.30m6.73m x 5.95m4.75m x 6.94m4.67m x 5.86m5.81m x 7.16m

West WingBedroom 1:Bedroom 2:Bedroom 3:Bathroom:East WingSitting Room:Kitchen:Bedroom 1:Bedroom 2:Bathroom:

5.42m x 6.47m5.47m x 6.20m5.45m x 5.46m3.22m x 2.01m

5.36m x 5.02m5.36m x 1.94m5.43m x 5.51m5.89m x 4.62m1.80m x 5.10m

L

Office

E

Ens

E

Ens

W

Bathroom

Kitchen

L

Cloakroom / Ladies’ Loo: with commode style lavatory, wash hand basin, separate linencloset and shelving.

Second Floor Bedroom 6 / School Room: former school room with open fireplace.

Bedroom 7: with open fireplace, wash stand, hidden fire escape ladder.

Ensuite Bathroom: with timber floor, shower, pedestal wash hand basin, WC, heatedtowel rail, spot lighting.

Bedroom 8 / Toile de Jouy Bedroom: (overlooking pump yard) with open fireplace.

Ensuite Bathroom: with cast iron roll-top bath, pedestal wash hand basin, heated towelrail, WC.

Separate linen room with shelving and hot watercylinders.

Bedroom 9: (overlooking stableyard) with openfireplace.

Ensuite Bathroom: with fitted bath, pedestal wash hand basin, WC, heated towel rail and spotlighting.

Kitchenette: with solid timber fitted floor and units, with sink.

Shower Room: with shower, wash stand with basin, WC.

Bedroom 10: (overlooking stableyard) with open fire place.

The Estate

Bedroom

Bedroom

Loft

Sitting Room

F

Suite):D m:B Suite):' room 3:B

3.72m x 7.32m6.51m x 5.94m6.51m x 3.30m6.73m x 5.95m4.75m x 6.94m4.67m x 5.86m5.81m x 7.16m

W5.42m x 6.47m5.47m x 6.20m5.45m x 5.46m3.22m x 2.01m

5.36m x 5.02m5.36m x 1.94m5.43m x 5.51m5.89m x 4.62m1.80m x 5.10m

L

Ens

W

Bathroom

Kitchen

L

The entire estate is set within one block, only being divided by a minor public road beyond the immediate core estate. The immediategrounds around the mansion house are quite delightful and include an array of mature specimen shrubs and trees and are beautifully laidout, the original design thought to be a Ninian Nevin design, who also designed The Iveagh Gardens and those at Arás an Uachtarain.The main pleasure garden on the west side provides lawns in front of the Saloon, with gravelled paths leading to more informal gardenswith shrubbery and small conservatories. A lovely brick lined walled garden, known as the Bishop's Garden, has been restored in recentyears with the help of the gardening specialist Daphne Shackleton. A Summer House (in need of restoration) is gracefully flanked by amassive Yew tree, thought to be over 500 years of age, and beyond this lies the ‘Wicklow Gardens’, an acidic-based garden with specimenplantings more usually suited to Wicklow's acidic soil.

The lands are of good quality and excellently managed with large belts of mature parkland separated by two ha-has in front of the houseand further benefiting from a recent tree-planting program to preserve the vista. A mixture of cattle and sheep grazing keeps the landsin good stead. Framing this parkland on either side are good stands of mature timber, making it most private and again protecting theunspoilt view from the house.

FarmyardsThe yard buildings are in the Palladian style being in close proximity to the main house but screened from view on both the entranceand main garden fronts of the house. Buildings include stables, coach houses, horse, cattle, pigs and other associated buildings. Atunnel running underneath the garden terrace links both the stable and fowl yards out of view. There is good stabling offered with16 loose boxes in the main yard, lying immediately adjacent to the house, and includes a fine original timber panelled tack room,carved stone mounting block, clock tower (newly restored) and lofted hay stores with original shoots to the stables below still intact.More recently a horse walker has been added to the adjacent haggard but is well concealed, the exterior being clad in stone. The otherfarm buildings lie south of the house beyond a private sunken garden and include a dovecote, walled orchard, bell tower, fowl yard,former cattle housing and grain lofts. The old four acre kitchen garden was turned into a modern farmyard in the 1960's and has arange of modern farm sheds, all nicely hidden from view within the original walled enclosure.

Estate Cottages & Church

The church has recently been boughtback into the estate and was also builtby Maxwell, presumably also during the1770’s and is in the neoclassical stylewith an earlier separate medieval spireon the bell tower. 3 lodges adjacent tothe church provide useful staffaccommodation or could alternativelybe let out and comprise: Lodge 1: livingroom, dining room, kitchen, 2bedrooms, bathroom, store and largegardens. Lodge 2: living room,kitchenette, 1 bedroom, bathroom. Thethird lodge is currently used as a garage.

Both the main gate and the ‘Kells’gate are flanked by further lodges,which comprise a Main Gate Lodge(living room, kitchen, 2 bedrooms,bathroom and utility room) and theKells Gate Lodge (living room, kitchen, 2 bedrooms, bathroom and utility room).

Local AmenitiesThere is a primary school within the Ardbraccan townsland with many more and numerous secondary schools available in nearbyNavan, Rathcairn Gaeltactht or alternatively at Headford Boarding School in Kells. A local shop is adequate for principle grocery

provisions while more extensive shopping is available in nearby Navan, some 4 km's away.

Good sport is available locally with fishing enjoyed on the Boyne and Blackwater rivers and the MeathFoxhounds, Tara Harriers, Ballymacad Harries and Westmeath Foxhounds are all within a short boxingdistance. Racing enthusiasts are within easy reach of Navan Racecourse (4 km), Fairyhouse racecourse &Tattersalls (28 km) and Punchestown, Leopardardstown and The Curragh are easily accessed by primarynational roads.

Golfing is well catered for in this region with many notable golf courses within an easy drive ofArdbraccan, including the Royal Tara Golf Club (12 km), Headford Golf Club (16 km), Navan Race &Golf Course (4 km) and The 'K' Club Golf & Hotel Leisure Resort (50 km).

These particulars do not form any part of any contract and are for guidance only. Maps and plans are not to scale and measurementsare approximate. Intending purchasers must satisfy themselves as to the accuracy of details given to them either verbally or as partof this brochure. Such information is given in good faith and is believed to be correct, however, the developers or their agents shallnot be held liable for inaccuracies. Prices quoted are exclusive of VAT (unless otherwise stated) and all negotiations are conducted onthe basis that the purchaser/lessee shall be liable for any VAT arising on the transaction. All maps produced by permission of theOrdnance Survey Ireland License No AU 0001703 © Government of Ireland.

LegalMr. Ciaran Feighery, Solicitor has been appointed to handle thesale conveyance. Ciaran Feighery Solicitors, Breffni, Main Street,Blanchardstown, Co. Dublin. t. +353 (0)1 821 3312 / 821 3320.f. +353 (0)1 821 1457. The property is offered for sale freeholdwith vacant possession being given at the closing of the sale.

The fitted carpets, rugs, curtains, light fittings, stained glasswindow shutters, garden statues, garden ornaments, machineryand furniture together with the chattels within the house areexcluded from the freehold sale.

The property is offered for sale subject to and with the benefitof all matters and rights of way contained in or referred to in theDeeds. Should the property not be sold in its entirity it may benecessary for the vendors to create / reserve rights of way oreasements to the benefit of the retained land(s). No fishing,shooting or sporting rights extend beyond the estate. There is apedestrian right of way to 'St. Ultans Holy Well' on part of theestate lands. A third party has mining rights on part of the lands.Ardbraccan House and Demesne on about 51 hectares of landsare designated an 'Architectural Conservation Area' (ACA)within the Meath County Development Plan.

Services Mains electricity (wired to facilitate generator connection),mains water supply, Biocycle foul drainage system, oil firedcentral heating (twin boilers with computerised and zonedfunctions), security electric gates (controlled by a masterzapper), security alarm with radio link to monitoring station,separate alarm to guest wing, multi-line telephone system withtelephone, television and internet points throughout, centralisedfire alarm system linked to monitoring station and with back upfire hydrants.

DirectionsFrom Dublin take the M50 to the N3/M3 towards Navan. Followroad to Navan through Dunshaughlin. Continue through NavanTown along the river on the N3 towards Cavan. After you leavethe town turn left at Newgate Motors (Land Rover/Mercedes) andcontinue for about 1 mile. The entrance gates are straight in frontof you on a right hand bend in the road.