An old Irish country house and estate with a rich history and beautiful antique décor has gone up for sale Co Limerick for €1.6million.
The Georgian house was built between 1848 and 1850, in the latter years of the Irish famine, and has an interesting story to tell.
Nantenan Estate dates back to the 1700's and had been granted to the Royce family by Queen Anne.
As part of the Penal Laws in Ireland, a ban had been imposed on Catholics from owning land and a number of Irish Catholic families were stripped of their estates during that time.
One of these families was the White family. They had previously owned large estates in Limerick but by the 1800s had once again regained their wealth as merchants and one son, Lieutenant Colonel John White, returned to Ireland after making a large fortune in the sugar plantations in Jamacia.
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In the early 1800s, the Royce family had gotten into financial difficulty and it was Colonel White who gave them large loans before eventually buying Nantenan Estate outright in the mid 1800.
Rather than living in the house occupied by the Royce family, he destroyed the old Queen Anne house and built the grand country house we see today.
Inside, it is a unique historical treasure, complete with wonderful period features including corniced ceilings with centres roses, decorative fireplaces, architraves, sash and case windows and shutters.
Nantenan house boasts seven bedrooms, all with views overlooking the estate parkland, as well as three bathrooms.
The property spans over 7,300sq ft and the dual aspect drawing room and adjoining dining room have been designed "with entertaining in mind" and the table in the dining room can comfortably seat up to 12 people.
However, estate agents Savills assures buyers that the house is suitable for "hosting lavish house parties" as well as "comfortable family living".
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The spacious kitchen is perfect for family living with plenty of storage, a moveable island, an oil-fired AGA cooker and a wood burning stove.
Another unique feature to Nantenan House is the private oratory, which was built to accommodate members of the family who had joined religious orders including two daughters who were nuns and one son who was a Jesuit priest. The chapel includes an altar, a hanging sanctuary lamp, cornicing and ornate ceiling mouldings.
The property is situated on 208 acres of lands including farm land which is a combination of silage ground, permanent pasture and forestry. It also includes a former coach house and a range of farm buildings.
The gardens that surround the main house are neatly landscaped and include a beautiful walled garden, which is situated at the back of the house.
The estate is in a rural setting in the heart of the country with the closest village of Askeaton 5 kilometres away, the popular heritage town of Adare 13 kilometres away and Limerick City Centre about 30 kilometres in a north-eastern direction.
