Saffronhill restored to perfect health

Tommy Barker says this property may have gone to the dogs twice, but it has many features to recommend it.

A NOBLE past, a noble current use, and rescue from the vagaries of time and fire – that’s Saffronhill, in a very small nutshell.

Long associated with the Creagh and St Leger families of Doneraile, north Cork fame, it latterly went to the dogs, before it, eh, went to the dogs.

Dating to the early 1700s, and Queen Anne cottage in style, it was bought in a burned out, derelict state 12 years ago by Rosemary and (the recently deceased) Charlie Warren, who rescued and reinstated it to its current good health.

And, along the way Saffronhill came to the rescue of animals in distress and abandoned dogs, and part of its grounds and outbuilding have been home to DAWG, the Dog Action Welfare Group.

DAWG is likely to relocate shortly as the genteel and hard-working Rosemary Warren is planning a belated return to the UK (the Warrens moved to Doneraile after an earlier period in Co Limerick.)

She dates the elegantly pleasing main residence, with its 10 tall sash window to the fore across the brick facade, to the first decade of the 18th century. This dwelling, Saffron Hill Cottage. was built by the Rev. Edward Sayers, who was a curate in Doneraile in 1708. It subsequently was owned by members of the Creagh family, and it passed in the mid-19th century to Viscount Doneraile, who installed his mother-in-law, a Mrs Lenox Conyngham, here as a sort of dowager’s house.

Much of Saffronhill’s lands were removed by the Land Commission in the 1950s, and then it began its several decades of decline.

When the Warrens bought it, it had been stripped out internally, and needed everything done, roofing, windows, reinstatement – and it has all been done.

On 11 acres, it has about 2,600 sq ft in the main residence, plus a 1,000 sq ft stone cottage, a network of old stone outbuildings, a two-acre walled garden, and walks in an estate setting. Views from the house and grounds, are over Doneraile Park, towards the Galtees and Ballyhoura hills.

Selling agents for Saffronhill are Savills in Cork, who seek €650,000 for the entire. The main Queen Anne house, with later Victorian touches, feature 13’ high ceilings and period touches, (door cases, architraves and other features were returned to it after restoration,) has four bedrooms and well-sized reception rooms, and the courtyard cottage has three bedrooms. The lofted stone outbuildings run to over 100’ in linear length and up to 18’ wide, and include animal pens.

The DAWG animal sanctuary website, meanwhile, carries a fundraising appeal for help in purchasing a new sanctuary property.

It helps up to 600 canines a year, with charity shops in several Co Cork towns.