Panoramic views over river valley

A country house on manageable grounds of just over two acres has come on the market in Kentstown, where Savills Hamilton Osborne King is selling Kentstown House, a Georgian residence dating back to before 1800. The property is very well-known in the locality and is situated next to the Somerville Estate, on a quiet cul-de-sac, with panoramic views over the River Nanny valley. It is an executors" sale and, according to Robert Hoban of the estate agents, the asking price is a very reasonable €825,000, representing excellent value for a large period house in County Meath. Kentstown House is an elegant Georgian residence of 2,702 square feet (251 square metres) in a mature setting with sweeping views over the River Nanny valley. Located in the renowned Boyne Valley area, it is very well situated to take advantage of the new N2 dual carriageway Ashbourne bypass, providing swift and easy access to the M50, Dublin Airport and the city centre, which lies just 24 miles away. The present Kentstown House dates back to around the year 1800 when it was built onto a pre-existing residence, which remains to this day as the rear section of the house, which faces south having been positioned to enjoy the sweeping views across the picturesque valley formed by the River Nanny. The setting of the house is very attractive as it stands set back from the road on a quiet cul-de-sac, with the heavily wooded Somerville estate to the east, and the old Church of Ireland church at Kentstown to the west. The elegant Georgian facade houses the classic layout of the period inside with the reception rooms flanking the main hall with its stairway, and features include tall ceilings, timber sash windows, original working shutters, marble fireplaces (from Somerville House) and arched alcoves within the walls. To the rear of the house lie the kitchen, utility rooms (which is plumbed for sink, washer and dryer) and wc and a service staircase provides secondary access to the first floor. Upstairs, there are four bedrooms and two bathrooms in the principal section and two further bedrooms in the older section to the rear, accessed from the main stairs return or by the rear stairs. The three front bedrooms in particular are bright, south-facing rooms and have wonderful views across the wooded valley. The house has been carefully maintained and well looked after through the years, but needs modernisation throughout and requires, for instance, the installation of a central heating system. Major renovation works took place in the 1970s, including roofing, wiring and plumbing. Kentstown House sits in the centre of about 2.3 acres of mature grounds. There are large lawns to the front and side and a gravelled drive and forecourt. There is an old kitchen garden to the rear and the remainder of the land is laid out in two grass paddocks, one to the rear of the house and one to the east with good road frontage and a farm gate off the road. The entire property is surrounded by mature trees and is well sheltered and very private. The house sits in a quiet rural setting but manages to avail of plentiful local facilities and amenities in Kentstown village - which is within walking distance - which include a pub, church, shop, bus-stops and local primary school. The busy towns of Navan and Ashbourne are seven miles and 10 miles away, respectively. Contact Robert Hoban at Savills Hamilton Osborne King, 20 Dawson Street, Dublin 2, on (01) 663 4350 for further information on this property.