Let loose the horses

Showhouse condition Wakefield is perfect for those looking to train horses — or not, writes Tommy Barker

HORSES get looked after almost as well as humans at this east Cork homestead called Wakefield, built in the early 2000s, fully finished, but in almost unlived-in showhouse condition. Built to a French country house design by a couple with Carrigtwohill roots, it is a mile or so up the hills above the burgeoning east Cork village, within a walk of its new rail station.

But, it is all about flesh and blood horses here rather than the iron horses of railway locomotion: one of the owners had been a jockey, and then a horse trainer as well as a businessman, and clearly knew what he was doing when he set out this equestrian centre and family home, on about 10 acres.

However, while the horse side of the business is done about 12 years, with gallops, paddocks and nine loose boxes, and the house is built nine years, the family have been living on the other side of the world virtually ever since — hence the decision to now offer it for sale.

Wakefield is brand new to market with agent Dominic Daly, who gives it a guide price of €1.3 million, and who says it is a perfect set-up for those looking to train racehorses or show-jumpers, breed them, run a livery or an equestrian centre.

The land is excellent, elevated a few hundred feet above sea level, facing due south, with views west towards Cork city, and east towards Youghal. Midleton is three miles away, and there are views to Great Island, Fota and even, distantly, Crosshaven. The owner’s horse-racing binoculars are handy for spotting local landmarks, the state of the tides, water towers, and a host of local and distant landmarks.

The property (set behind electric entrance gates with horse and foal motifs) is just shy of 10 acres, with a four-furlong wood-chip gallop around its perimeter with a gentle gradient handy for training, while the paddocks are in a handy mix of sizes, and the initial grant of planning permission was for 21 stables and a covered arena as well, so any new owner can increase capacity and capabilities if they want to.

Wakefield is wholly private, toward the end of a 250 yard drive edged by mountain ash trees, and the design was inspired, the owners say, by a French country house, with different roof levels and protrusions which help camouflage its sizeable 3,300sq ft of living space.

It is sympathetically (and expensively) finished in Tipperary-sourced limestone on three sides, with brick around windows and doors, and there’s a natural slate roof and three curved dormers, finished in fibreglass. Add in a rear elevation done in pebble dash, and PVC double glazing, and you’ve got an exterior as close to maintenance-free as the most indolent could wish for.

Inside, the large house (it’s close to 90’ long) is in mint order, with several areas with extra high ceilings, such as the very best room’s scene-stealing triple aspect from a bay window, 18’ high pitched ceilings, elaborate off-white marble open fireplace, and hardwood marabou flooring which features in much of this house’s ground floor.

Other rooms include a formal dining room to the rear, a lofty-ceilinged kitchen/breakfast room with granite topped timber units, family/TV room, and two ground floor bedrooms, with the master suite at the eastern end, with lobby, dressing room, and large bathroom with separate power shower and over-size Jacuzzi bath, and all ware here has gold-finished taps and trimmings for more than a hint of luxury.

There are three more overhead bedrooms, also en suite, making for seven bathrooms in all.

Location: Carrigtwohill, Cork

Price: €1.3 million

Size: 308 sq m, (3,300 sq ft)

Bedrooms: 5, en suite

BER rating: Pending

Broadband: Yes

Best feature: Humans and horses will be spoiled for comfort

VERDICT: Let loose the horses, there’s land and space for all.