Overgrown and unloved yet period home has plenty of potential

THE last time I visited Rochestown Wood House was in June, 2003, and I described it then as having a lovely feel.

Almost five years on the ‘feel’ has been destroyed, literally.

Fly-by-night thieves have stolen most of the fireplaces and damaged water pipes, leaving the house in a bad way.

The prize of the former kitchen, a huge four-oven Aga, and worth about a good few bob second-hand, has been deliberately smashed, probably because it couldn’t be moved. Mindless.

What the entrepreneurs of the darkside didn’t finish, the ‘gatters’ did — windows were probably smashed with insouciance while polishing off cans of Bavaria.

It’s enough to make your blood boil.

The old house was overgrown like a bad fairytale, but has been cleared up slightly prior to its latest market assault — it goes to auction on June 19 through joint agents, Barrett Cahill and Knight Frank.

Denis Barrett was the Indiana Jones who cut through swathes of overgrowth to reach the besmirched jewel beneath.

And, despite its maltreatment, Rochestown Wood House is heading for auction at an AMV of €3 million.

And why wouldn’t it reach that? was Barrett’s attitude as we walked through the ruins of this substantial, 5,000 square foot dwelling.

A big, period house on eight-plus acres, with views over the most unspoilt part of Cork’s inner harbour, it also has privacy, utter privacy.

Surrounded by its own land this major selling point has also been its downfall — the vandals could do what they liked, sight unseen.

But if I’ve conveyed an image of utter destruction and decay, then let me pull back — there is much that is sound here and much that is reclaimable, including a wonderful staircase, door casings and cornicing.

Rochestown Wood House may not have to be taken back to the bones, but it will require major renovation.

And while Denis Barrett and I may have disagreed on the ball park costs involved — we agreed on one thing — it’s a gem of a sale.

Where would you get this kind of acreage, a house of this size, (or the potential to create a doppelganger), on the rim of the city? And a highly-prized side at that.

It also shows good capital appreciation considering it sold through Cohalan Downing and Associates for over a million euro five years ago and, sad to say, in better condition.

The sale includes the landmark, derelict roundy gatelodge on the Rochestown Road, which could be converted to a three-bed dwelling, and there are plans available for its conversion.

Rochestown Wood House was originally a farmhouse which was given two grandiose extensions in the early 20th century. It was owned at one stage by Sir Henry O’Shea, a Papal Knight who, ironically, gave his name to a 1980s nightclub in the city.

According to Denis Barrett, the house will be sold at auction on the day, which is as good an indication as any that it’s open season, again, on this phoenix of a property.