Kilmurray House On C.20 Acres, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny, CO KILKENN

LOCATION
Kilmurry is 17 km from Kilkenny City and 4km from Thomastown, which has an array of amenities, including banks, supermarkets, schools, restaurants and all other services. Dublin is about 125km north along the N9 Dublin-Waterford route and Waterford is about 35km away. The N9 is currently being upgraded and is due for completion in 2008 and will significantly reduce travelling time to Dublin.



DESCRIPTION
Kilmurry is a truly splendid Georgian manor house, which has recently been sympathetically renovated and restored.



The house is approached from a quiet and picturesque country road, which is completely sheltered by mature trees, through stone pillars, private gates and along a tree lined avenue.



As you approach Kilmurry House you are immediately struck by the fine proportioned house and the lawned gardens which surround it. 



The reception rooms and bedrooms which are almost all ensuite are magnificent in size, with decorative ceilings, original fireplaces and large sash windows.



There are many impressive rooms through out the house, including the inner hall, which has beautiful ornate plaster work, a dome style window and a columned entrance into the living room.



The ball room or the long room has fireplaces at both ends and French doors leading to the front lawn.



The dining room houses the most magnificent wooden fireplace, which was carved by an inhabitant of the house.



The fireplace in the library is a fine example of Italian carved marble.



For all day sunshine the orangery where Anne Butler painted many of her finest pieces, benefits from the rising sun in the east and the setting sun in the west.



The accommodation briefly comprises of 4 reception rooms, 9 bedrooms (6 ensuite), 3 further bathrooms, kitchen, orangery, cellar room, a granny flat and a 2 bedroom apartment.



 



HISTORY
Kilmurry House dates back to 1690 when a Colonel Bushe built a seat on lands granted to him under the Cromwellian settlement.



The Bushes lived the genteel life of the day and applied themselves to the land, the law and the Church. Although the house was left in the hands of the Bushe Family for a short while, Charles Kendal Bushe, (known as the incorruptible Irishman), a solicitor general for Ireland and Lord Chief Justice was able to buy back the estate in 1814.



Charles added the two single-storey wings on either side of the principal façade and an extensive wing of service and accommodation to the rear of the house. It is believed that the new wings were the work of the renowned architect Sir Richard Morrison and his son William Vitruvius.



Upon Charles death the estate was bought by Major Henry Butler of a branch of the Butler family of Kilkenny castle and a grandson of the 11th Viscount Mountagarrett. Major Butler's daughters inspired by their beautiful surroundings were artistically inclined, with the ornate carved wooden fireplace in the dining room a reminder of their presence and talent.



But it was Major Butler's daughter Mildred Anne Butler who became widely recognized as a prominent water colourist. Much of her work was inspired by the house and romantic grounds of Kilmurry with one of her most famous paintings “The Lilac Phlox" still exhibited today in the National Gallery of Ireland.



Mildred Anne Butler left the house to her cousin Mrs. Archer- Houblon whose horse riding skills were renowned in the equestrian world. So much so that she was called upon to bestow her skills to Queen Elizabeth II and is remembered in the equestrian pageantry of the Trooping of the Colour in London. Mrs Archer- Houblon together with her sister, preserved Miss Butler's legacy until the house was sold in 1981.





ACCOMMODATION - Approximately 1,245 sq. m. (13,400 sq. ft.)




Accommodation of Main House

Ground Floor
  
Entrance Hall Mosaic tiled floor, oval shaped room, door to:



Main Hall
Hard wood floor, corniced ceiling, feature dome skylight with decorative cornicing, grey marble fireplace with tiled inset.



Library:    
Hard wood floor, corniced ceiling, 3 recessed sash windows with shutters, white feature marble decorative fireplace and built in mock book case with secret passage door to ballroom.



Ballroom 
Hard wood floor, corniced ceiling, 5 recessed sash windows with shutters, 2 grey marble fireplaces.



Dining Room  
Hard wood floor, corniced ceiling, 2 recessed sash windows with shutters & carved oak fire surround.



Sitting Room 
Hard wood floor, corniced ceiling, black marble  fireplace, double French doors leading to garden.



Kitchen  
Tiled floor, part tiled walls, fitted pine kitchen unit with marble and pine work surface, pine island with tiled inset, ‘Stanley' range, ‘Belfast' sink, door leading to laundry room with boiler room off kitchen.



Orangery
Stone tiled floor, 2 recessed bay windows, decorative corniced ceiling, door leading to the gardens.



Staircase Hall 
Wooden floor, corniced ceiling, with original mahogany curved staircase.

Bathroom
Wooden floor, wc, whb.



Flower Room
Wooden floor, wc, whb.

Back Hall
Stone tiled floor, leads around to corridor to main  Back stairs hall, dining room & kitchen. Door leading to courtyard.
 
Wine cellar 
Original wine cellar with stone arches.



First floor Return 
(Revert to floor plans)



Bedroom 5 
Carpeted floor, 2 recessed sash windows, wooden fireplace.



Ensuite Bathroom
Tiled floor, wc, whb, bath with ‘Mira' shower.

Bedroom 6 
Carpeted floor, corniced ceiling, wooden fireplace.



Ensuite  Bathroom
Carpeted floor, wc, whb, shower, door to landing. 

Bedroom 7 
Carpeted floor.



Ensuite   Bathroom
Carpeted floor, part tiled walls, bath, wc, whb.

Study/Office 
Carpeted floor, fireplace & sash window.



FIRST FLOOR

Master Bedroom 
Carpeted floor, corniced ceiling, marble fireplace, 2 recessed sash windows with shutters overlooking front lawn & lake.



Ensuite Bathroom
Wooden floor, part tiled walls, corniced ceiling, recessed sash window, wc, whb, roll top bath, walk in shower, bidet.



Bedroom 2 
Carpeted floor, corniced ceiling, marble fireplace, 2 recessed sash windows overlooking front lawn & lake.



Ensuite Bathroom
whb, wc, bath with shower.

Bedroom 3 
Wooden floor, corniced ceiling,  wooden fireplace with decorative tiled inset, whb, sash window with shutters.



Ensuite Shower Room
Shower, w.c.



Bedroom 4 
Wooden floor, corniced ceiling, black marble fireplace, whb, recessed sash window with shutters.



Bathroom (wc) 
Wooden floor, whb, wc, bath, part tiled walls, sash window.



Store room 
Walk in hot press.



SECOND FLOOR
Bedroom 8  
Wooden floor, corniced ceiling, black marble fireplace, recessed sash window with shutters.



Bathroom 
Carpeted floor, bath, whb.



Bedroom 9 
Wooden floor, corniced ceiling, fireplace, recessed sash window with shutters.




APARTMENT 2 
(Own separate entrance via courtyard and also approached by back stairs)



Ground Floor 
Hall  Tiled floor, spiral staircase.



Bathroom 
Wc, whb, shower.



Kitchen/ Dining Room
Tiled floor, built in wood units,  Electrolux' cooker, sink, integrated fridge and freezer.



Sitting Room 
Wooden floors, 2 windows.



First Floor 
Bedroom Carpeted floor, wooden fireplace, recessed sash window with shutters.



Bathroom 
Carpeted floor, wc, whb, bath, built in storage cupboards, sash window with shutters.



Bedroom  
Carpeted floor, fireplace, recessed sash window with shutters.



Two further rooms in need of refurbishment.



Granny flat (Apartment 1)
Own separate entrance via courtyard and through ground floor of main house.



Sitting Room / Kitchen
Carpeted floor, part tiled walls, kitchen units, ‘Aga' cooker.



Bedroom
Carpeted floor, whb  



Ensuite  wc, shower.




COURTYARD
The original coutyard is to the rear of the house and is enclosed by an old stone wall. The courtyard contains 2 garages, 2 stables, a hay barn and the entrance to 2 apartments. There are also 2 further stables at the rear of the entrance.



GARDENS
The house is surrounded by lawns on both sides which are sheltered by mature copper beech and chesnut trees. The formal gardens lead from the orangery and sitting room to include flower beds, a stone paved terrace, original low stone walls with balled columns and waterfall. There is also a 2 acre walled garden with the remains of formal gardens, kitchen gardens and the ruin of a gardener's cottage. There are magnificent specimen trees ( Oak, Beech, Lime, Cedar of Lebanon, Scotts Pine, Hornbeam) and ancient woodlands throughout the grounds and the land.



LANDS
Lands extend to c.8.0 hectares (20 acres) including the larger part of the lake of about 2 acres. There are 2 paddocks of c.7 acres which are stud fenced and laid out in grass, c.3 acres are in park land and c.3 acres are in magnificent old woodland. While the formal gardens consist of c.2 acres and the walled gardens are a further c.2 acres.




AMENITIES



Fishing
This area is a haven for anglers with the River Nore on your doorstep.



Golf
For the golf enthusiast, Mount Juliet is a 1500 acre estate boasting a four star hotel and a Jack Nicklaus designed championship course. It is just two miles from Kilmurry House. Gowran Park, an 18 hole golf course is a ten minute drive from the property.



Hunting and shooting
A choice of hunting packs are available to the keen horseman including the Kilkenny's, North Kilkenny's and the Carlow farmers hunt which are all within easy boxing distance. There are also a number of private shoots in the area.



Racing
Race-goers are well catered for with courses at Gowran Park (10 minutes), Tramore (40 minutes), Tipperary and Clonmel all within an hours drive.



Education
There are a number of primary schools and play schools in the locality with a mixed secondary education in Grennan College in Thomastown, Kilkenny College and New Town School in Waterford.



Shopping
Thomastown has an array of good shops, bars and restaurants and provides all the requirements of every day living. Kilkenny, Carlow and Waterford are the main shopping centres in the area.




  Dublin 125km (75 miles)
  Waterford 35km (20 miles)
  Carlow 40km (25 miles)
  Kilkenny 17km (10 miles)
  Mount Juliet 3.22km (2miles)
  Thomastown 4 km (1.5 miles)



Contact: -
Celia Lamb,
Knight Frank Ganly Walters,
8-34 Percy Place,
Dublin 4.
Tel: - +353 1 6623255
Email: - celia.lamb@ie.knightfrank.com



OR



Harriet Grant,
Knight Frank Ganly Walters,
8-34 Percy Place,
Dublin 4.
Tel: - +353 1 6623255
Email: - harriet.grant@ie.knightfrank.com




 


CL / RJG P06217