A Littleton gem

A LITTLE bit of a gem, this restored rectory at Littleton has an elegant sufficiency of qualities that normally come with country house living.

It has six acres of ground five bedrooms, two formal reception rooms and a range of rooms to afford that great family luxury space.

"This type of property doesn't come up too often," says joint agent John Gleeson. "It's a manageable size, but it's also a marvellous house for entertaining."

The house was almost destroyed by fire in the early '80s, and was subsequently gutted and re-built by its present owners.

They have retained all the period features and blended 20th century plumbing and insulation with 19th century elegance.

The rectory has had a good deal of overseas interest and some local interest so far, says Mr Gleeson.

Located in the heart of Tipperary, the property is almost slap-bang on the N8, and could attract commuters to the capital, 88 miles away.

Cork city is 72 miles to the south, while Cashel is 10 miles away and Thurles less than a five-mile drive.

Priced at €750,000 through joint agents Callum Bain of Ganly Walters and John M Gleeson and Co, this is good value for the quality that's on offer, says Callum Bain.

Built some time in the early 1800s, the rectory is a smart, gentleman's residence that comes with a new roof, new wiring, central heating and replacement joinery, all in period style.

Sash windows remain and the cornicing is described as superb Other features include new wooden floors and Kilkenny marble fireplaces.

French doors lead from the drawing room to a rear deck

It has a porch addition to the front entrance while behind it is a front door with fanlight. This leads onto a spacious reception hall with parquet flooring.

The house is two-storey over spacious basement.

The attic space is also huge and, apart from a study and sewing room, one room is given over to a complete Hornby train set.

Because it's so well insulated, this space could convert to any number of uses.

On the ground floor, the drawing room and family rooms both have the same generous proportions and measure 7.6m by 5.35m.

The dining room comes with sash windows overlooking the gardens to the front.

While the drawing room is self-contained, the family room connects to the kitchen/dining area.

This has oak fitted units with integrated appliances and has stairs to the basement. Here, there's a scullery, wine-cellar, laundry room, office and billiards room and it also includes an aviary.

Upstairs, the guest bedroom overlooks the rear garden and has an ensuite bathroom that includes double basins set in marble.

Bedrooms two, four and five share a main bathroom and the master has a full bathroom ensuite and a connecting dressing room.

One handy feature at this level is a chute which connects to the laundry room in the basement.

At basement level there is access to a gravelled yard, garage and parking area and on either side of the house are two secret gardens.

Because of their sunken nature, these are totally sheltered and private and would have been part of the original layout of the property.

There are also walled-in areas around the house and the entire boundary is also marked by old, stone walls.

The rectory is set on six acres that, according to John Gleeson, allow for lots of little walkways so much so, he says, that you wouldn't need to go anywhere else.