Fernhill House & Gardens, Enniskerry Road, Stepaside, Co. Dublin

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Beds	6 beds
Price	Sold
Property Type
Size	897 meters²
Energy Rating	BER-G
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Description

A spectacular residential holding extending to about 84 acres with renowned gardens and parkland on the outskirts of Dublin City with magnificent views of The City and Dublin Bay, requiring refurbishment available in lots. Lot 1:- c.12.7 ha, non-residential agricultural land with separate access Lot 2:- Fernhill House on c. 21.1 ha, including staff accommodation, gardens and parkland. Lot 3: The Entire, Fernhill House on c. 34 ha. HISTORY Fernhill House and Estate, dates back to the 1723 or thereabouts and has evolved into a spectacular small estate extending to about 84 acres on the outskirts of Dublin City. The property is originally understood to have extended to about 110 acres and thus most of the property remains today with only about 26 acres now under separate ownership. The property has been the home of relatively few families over a number of generations. Originally owned by the Darley Family, up to 1934, when acquired by the Walker Family. The Walkers sold the property in 2007 to Ciaran Larkin of Bee Bee Developments Ireland, who subsequently sold the property on to David Arnold in 2008. Fernhill House. The Darley Family, are accredited with most of the changes that the house has been through. The original section of the house is the single storey section to the front which now contains the principle reception rooms. The structure to the rear is believed to have been a range of outbuildings which were converted and extended to living accommodation, probably by Edmond or Justice William Darley. The dates of the conversion to the habitable accommodation are unclear. Today the house, which requires considerable refurbishment, extends to about 897 sq. m (9652 sq. or thereabouts) and briefly contains 26 rooms. There are 5 principle reception rooms including drawing room, billiard room, dining room, study and large entrance hall with glazed pergola over. These are located in the single storey section to the front of the house and all have direct access to the extensive lawns and gardens that surround the house. To the rear is the two storey wing, with a central three storey tower. Here are located the 6 principle bedrooms, 2 lesser reception rooms, kitchens and store rooms. There are a number of staff rooms including staff bedrooms and sitting room. The elevated setting of the house affords the occupier the most spectacular views over the City of Dublin, the bay and as far as the Mourne Mountains in Co Down on a clear day. In addition to the main house there are three further residential units. The first is the period gate lodge, situated at the main entrance. The second is the Garden cottage located adjacent to the walled garden which was converted from a small barn into a residential unit, currently occupied on a life tenancy basis by a member of the Walker family. The third residential unit is a modern system built single storey house situated in the old farm yard. Fernhill Gardens The estate with its renowned gardens and arboretum was we understand established in the 1860’s or thereabouts by Mr Justice Darley and his son Edmond. Towards the turn of the 19th century, Judge William Darley extended the gardens with the inclusion of a number of water features, rockeries and establishing a collection of many unusual and fine Rhododendron varieties, including the “Fernhill Silver”, a hybrid, believed to have been given to the Darley’s by the Glasnevin Botanic Gardens. From 1934, during the stewardship of the Walker Family, work continued, with the expansion of the varieties of Rhododendron, improvements to the walks, additional topographical features and upgrading of the information in respect of the plants and trees within the garden. This facilitated the opening of the gardens to the paying public. The Walker Family, were greatly influenced by the ideas and ethos of the Irish practical gardener William Robinson (1838 – 1935), whose ideas about wild gardening spurred the movement that evolved into the English Cottage Garden, which organises exotic plants into a naturalistic setting. There are numerous specimens of magnificent trees and shrubs lining the pathways through the garden. The garden remained open to the public until the Walkers disposed of the property. The Lands To the front of the main residence is a parkland paddock which extends to about 9.5 acres, all in grass, interspersed with mature trees. To the rear of the house, above the walled garden and accessed by the rear avenue is about 32 acres of pasture land suitable for the keeping of livestock and the production of crops. On the southern quarter of the property is an area of about 13 acres of rustic woodland and natural type heath land. The house, walled garden, gardens, grounds and avenues extend to about 29.5 acres.

Accommodation

Main House Fernhill house offers extensive accommodation, having a total of 26 various rooms. (See floorplans) The main reception rooms are situated in the single story front section of the house and include the following:- Hall (Room 4) Accessed from a small porch with the front door. There is a large carved oak chimney piece with wood burning stove. Glazed pergola overhead and parquet floor. Window on single elevation. Billiard Room. (Room 1) Sunken section for billiard table, carved oak chimney piece with wood burning stove. French doors to garden. Windows on two elevations. Drawing Room (Room 2) Fine cast iron chimney piece with tiled inset and fire grate. Windows on two elevations including 2 bay windows on southern elevation all with French doors. Parquet floor. Study (Room 3) Carved Oak chimney piece with wood burning stove. Window on single elevation. The remainder of the accommodation is contained in the two storey rear section of the residence. Dining Room (Room 5) Windows and French doors on three elevations with 2 French doors. Main staircase to first floor. Cloak Room (Room 6) Quarry tiled floor, WC WHB Rear Hall Kitchen (Room 7) Tiled floor. Range of floor and wall mounted units Scullery (Room 8) Staff Bedroom (Room 9) used for storage Scullery (Room 10) Tiled floor Old Kitchen (Room 15) Utility Room (Room 16) Pantry (Room 17) Bedroom (Room 14) Sitting Room (Room 13) Ornate cast Iron Fireplace. Bedroom (Room 12) Back Stairs to First Floor First Floor Bedroom 1 (Room 18) Windows on three elevations. Open fireplace Bathroom/Dressing Room(Room 19) Bedroom 2 (Room 20) Windows on two elevations. Open fire place. WC Facilities and Hot press Bedroom 3 (Room 24) Open fireplace Sitting Room (Room 25) Door to conservatory Bedroom 4 (Room 23) Open fireplace Ensuite Bathroom (Room 22) Bedroom 5 (Room 21) Stairs to Tower Room Bedroom 6 (Room 26) Tower bedroom room with stairs to mezzanine space

BER Details

Garden Cottage BER G Cert No. 106175581 Gate Lodge BER G Cert No. 106175524 Cottage BER F Cert No. 106175623

Directions

From Dublin proceed south to the Village of Stepaside. In Stepaside proceed north on the R117 for about 1km and the entrance is on the left.

Viewing Details

By appointment only

Description

Accommodation

BER Details

Garden Cottage BER G Cert No. 106175581 Gate Lodge BER G Cert No. 106175524 Cottage BER F Cert No. 106175623

Directions

From Dublin proceed south to the Village of Stepaside. In Stepaside proceed north on the R117 for about 1km and the entrance is on the left.

Viewing Details