Description
LOCATION
c.4.55 Acres (1.83ha)
A superb original Georgian country house dating from 1776 in a unique waterfront location on Oysterhaven Bay, with magnificent views and direct access to the sea. Kinsale 6 miles, Cork International Airport 18 miles. Complete with Cottages, Swimming Pool, Greenhouses and Outbuildings. Stunning Gardens and Orchard.
Four self-catering cottages in the restored stable courtyard, conference room, courtyard spa pool, bar and two chalets in the wonderful gardens.
Oysterhaven and Kinsale
Walton Court is situated on Oysterhaven Bay which overlooks the bay and this beautiful residence occupies an idyllic position with unspoilt views of the area. The property is located just 9km(6miles) from the picturesque fishing and tourist town of Kinsale which is widely regarded as the Gourmet Capital of Ireland with it's many bars, restaurants and tourist attractions, numerous primary and secondary schools and provides all the requirements of everyday living.
The golf enthusiast is well catered for with excellent nearby golf clubs such as Kinsale Golf Club, Ringenane and the world class Old Head Golf Links nearby. Kinsale's coast offers a multitude of water sports for the energetic such as sailing, windsurfing and boating. The keen angler can avail of the many fine spots for fishing along the coast and also the Bandon River. Walton Court is well placed for those who enjoy horse riding with many equestrian centres located near Kinsale and for hunting locally Kinsale lies in the centre of the South Union Country.
Communications are excellent with Cork International Airport 32km(20miles) away offering international and domestic air services. Cork City centre is just 28km(18miles) with its wide range of shops, shopping centres, boutiques, restaurants, primary and secondary schools.
History
Walton Court is an Irish Georgian country house dating from 1776 and incorporating a fortified tower house from 1576.
A unique historic property overlooking idyllic Oysterhaven Bay is steeped in three centuries of history and intrigue; it was home to the colourful Walton family for more than 200 years, followed by a tea planter from Ceylon, an eccentric Church of Ireland minister, and two retired Scottish priests.
The earliest recorded family history of Walton Court dates from 1576, when the original fortified Tower House, stable courtyard and 1000 acre farm estate were in the ownership of the Roche family of Norman origin, who first came to the area in 1167.
By 1642 James Oge Roche was charged with treason and disinherited, the ownership of the small castle overlooking Oysterhaven Bay and surrounding farm land passing to Captain Swithin Walton.
In 1776 his son and heir Thomas Walton remodeled the house in the Georgian style, with stonemason George Keane employing 100 local men to cut the distinctive ashlar stone blocks now facing the house.
His brother Robert emigrated to the United States, where he was one of the founders of the Rugby commune in Tennessee, building a wooden “replica" of Walton Court.
The Walton family archives and historical documents show that they were a colourful family, relying on smuggling brandy and silk from France to Ireland for their living, outrunning the English coastguard cutters in and out of the many local bays and inlets.
Archives show the Waltons involved in the relief effort during the Great Famine, distributing produce from the farm and bread from the estate bakery, now restored as a cottage in the old courtyard.
The house later passed to the Cork banking family of Sir Thomas Roberts through marriage, and then into the Knolles family of nearby Oatlands House, now sadly demolished.
Subsequent owners have included Church of Ireland minister Reverend Harold Hadden, whose obsession with the Walton legend of smugglers tunnels under the property led him to map and excavate the land in search buried treasure, a retired Irish tea planter from India, Andrew Carnegie, and two retired Catholic Priests, Fr. Richard O'Callaghan and his brother Paul, who ran the local pub here until the 1980's.
The derelict property was bought by the present owners on their return from Kenya, and they embarked on a ten year restoration project of the house and stable courtyard.
Walton Court House is listed as a building of local and national historical importance, and is catalogued as one of the historic houses of Ireland, with the sympathetic and painstaking restoration attracting comment from the Irish Georgian Society, Society for the Preservation of Ancient Buildings and Cork County Council planners.
The distinctive stone frontage of the house carries the inscription “TW 1776"below the gable which was added by Thomas Walton following his Georgian improvement extension.
The Walton family crest bears the motto “Omnia Vincit Amor" or “Love Conquers All".
ACCOMMODATION
The main house has bright, spacious and well portioned rooms spread over three levels. The main rooms have breathtaking and unspoilt views of Oysterhaven Bay. The entrance to the house is approached via stone steps rising to the front door. An attractive entrance hall with limestone tiled floor leads to the inner hall with a delightful staircase rising to the first floor. Doors lead off to the principal reception rooms, including the generous drawing room and dining room with full height sash windows with shutters, hard wood floors, centrally positioned fireplaces and intricately detailed ceiling cornices. Beyond is the plant filled conservatory which is air conditioned so it can be used at any time of the year and overlooks the courtyard.
On the first floor landing there is an exceptional library with extensive bookshelving with two large windows at either side - one which looks over the Bay and the other has views across the courtyard.
The bedroom accommodation in the main house is arranged over two floors. The master bedroom suite is a well portioned room with a central fireplace and ensuite bathroom. There are four further bedrooms with two ensuite and a shower room which benefit from delightful views over the gardens and Oysterhaven Bay.
The courtyard has four self-catering cottages which have been carefully restored to give a peaceful country warmth with exposed stone walls and beams. A conference room for up to 40 guests, bar, spa pool, sauna and various store rooms.
There are two chalets located in the garden which have been used for staff accommodation and a Norwegian barbeque house with decking area overlooking Oysterhaven bay.
Gardens and Grounds
The gardens and grounds are a particular feature of the property and have benefited from an intensive restoration plan. The property has two entrance gates from the road. One leads to the garden, one leads to the main house and courtyard.
An enclosed vegetable garden and polytunnel provide the house with organic produce, a millennium orchard of ancient apple and pear varieties was planted in 2001 Lawns and wild flower meadows surround the property and lead down to the Bay from the main house.
Services
Enviromental wood fired boiler with oil fired central heating
Automatic generator
Two wells and spring
Septic tank
Excess €4,000,000
Reference
Paddy Pritchard Gordon
Robert Ganly
Roseanne De Vere-Hunt
CS0758
PPG/RJG/RDVH
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