Lots of space down by the riverside

IT’S not often that a nine-bedroom property comes on the market and it’s even more unusual when it comes up for sale because its owners are trading up.

That's the case with Bridgewater House in Innishannon, a modern, 4,000 square foot property which lies directly across the river from its owners' new acquisition Innishannon House Hotel.

Although it has not been confirmed, the Roche family of Bridgewater House is believed to have paid up to €3 million for the 1720 property on the banks of the Bandon river at Innishannon.

The old but beautiful house holds no fears for Denis Roche with his background in engineering, or his wife Margaret, who has run Bridgewater House as a B&B for the last while and has lots of experience in the hospitality industry.

Along with the rest of the family, they moved into Innishannon House last weekend and plan a seamless takeover, with all existing staff remaining and all bookings honoured.

And while the Roches are relishing the challenge offered, and will start work immediately on an extension, there remains the matter of their existing house.

Anthony O'Regan of Keane Mahony Smith, who handled the sale of Innishannon House, is now in charge of the sale of Bridgewater and describes is as a bit of a bargain at the asking price of €850,000.

That sum covers a waterside site of four acres, which, Mr O'Regan points out would cost at least, €500,000 on the open market, but here you get a 4,000 square foot house into the bargain.

And for all its space, the house is extremely manageable as a family home, he says, and will appeal to trader-uppers, especially those who fancy a bit of boating.

Here on the Bandon estuary, motor cruisers coming upriver from Kinsale are a familiar sight, says Denis Roche.

His one disappointment is that he never completed a jetty at Bridgewater; the waterside location deserves it, he says.

The house itself was built just five years ago. It's a mile from the village of Innishannon and a 20-minute commute to Cork city. Tastefully laid out inside, there's a range of living rooms with elegant fittings and furniture to fill the large rooms. These include a lounge, dining room, conservatory and a large, fully-fitted kitchen with adjoining utility. Also on the ground floor is a study, a main bathroom and four bedrooms, all of which are en suite.

And then, up an elegant, Georgian staircase, are three more bedrooms and a main bathroom.

The best room, however, has to be the master bedroom with a balcony that takes in the estuarine views.

Add to all this a central vacuum system, a run of polished floors, a sweeping drive and maintenance-free exterior and you have a turnkey home.

Considering the difficulty in both finding sites and getting planning permission, Bridgewater House could certainly be the walk-in solution to somebody's housing need.