Revised price to tempt buyers for big period property in Cobh

A YEAR is a short time in the 205-year history of a house, but the past one has been eventful enough for Mount Eaton House in the Co Cork harbour town of Cobh.

The period Georgian home, with Victorian add-ons, went up for sale in 2005, but an agreed deal fell through, a victim to another collapsed sale as part of a buying chain.

Now it is back with a different agent and a price revised from €850,000 to offers over €750,000, quoted by Michael O’Donovan of Sherry FitzGerald in Cork city.

For that sort of sum it is a lot of property, almost 4,000 sq ft on three levels with six bedrooms. But, while it once would have been on grand grounds, it now is in or on reduced circumstances, some 0.75 of an acre, with lots of new-ish homes built around its edges in recent decades.

“It is a manageable buy for a range of people looking for a big period property at this sort of price,” says Mr O’Donovan, adding that while it had been a B&B in the 1990s, it now is almost certain to be bought and kept once more as a private home.

Mount Eaton stands above the town of Cobh (it would have been called Queenstown for most of its long history) on Great Island, facing south with maturity in its grounds, with large garage and boiler house.

Overall state and fettle is fine, but currently it is a bit darkly dated with strong colours on walls. Some of these are in keeping with its period origins, rather than the current fashion for pale creams and neutrals, but unlikely ever to have a revival is the hall, stairs and landing flock-like red and white wallpaper, which continues its rolling march across ceilings as well as walls.

The left side is Georgian, but the bulk is more identifiably Victorian, whilst similarly-sized windows (sash-like at first glance, but in truth top-hinged replacements) serve to visually combine the two architectural eras from the front.

Internally, accommodation has kept faith with period trimmings and fireplaces. It includes a hall with winding staircase, drawing room, living room with bay and an arch to the dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, back hall and stores, three first floor bedrooms, one with en suite bathroom, dressing room and walk-in robes, main bathroom and separate WC, while the top floor has three further bedrooms, a study and a WC.

Mount Eaton has oil heating, mains services, and a manageable site of three-quarter of an acre, with old stone orchard wall.