Former parochial house on three acres in rural Cork

THE market might have peaked, but there’s an affordable period home on offer at Peake, Coachford, in Co Cork.

The former Coachford Parochial House, a few miles form Coachford and 17 from Cork city, is new to the market, on three acres, and with a €350,000 asking price with agent John Singleton, of Sherry FitzGerald O’Donovan.

The size of the house, and the acreage, will draw buyers keen to put their own stamp on a place in the country, near to the feature sluice at Dripsey Pond — used to power turbines for the now-defunct woollen mills — and the ruins of a castle taken by Cromwell.

Dating to the early 1900s, the parochial house is a square block, with a range of triple sash windows across its front facade, and with a central porch entry point: sensitive annexes and extensions left and right could keep the symmetry, while also improving the look and adding to the accommodation.

Distinctive internal features include ornate columns in the hallway, which also has terrazzo flooring along its length, while the real approach is along the mature-treed avenue up from the public roadway, with stout entrance pillars and gates. The three acres, just rescued from overgrowth, include an old orchard.

The house itself needs modernisation and TLC, says Mr Singleton, and rooms include two reception rooms, each with feature fireplace, and one with side bay window, there’s a kitchen with Rayburn, a pantry, and a guest loo.

Overhead are five bedrooms plus bathroom. All in all, a manageable upgrading option in a Lee Valley setting, where recent, quality period homes have come up for sale from just under €1m to €2m.

This is going to suit a wider range of shallower pockets.