Summercove, and the livin' is easy...at €995k Kinsale Charles Fort vicar's home

Ex military Charles Fort clergman's Charles Cottage could be answer to a buyer's prayers

Charles Cottage is on the hill towards Kinsale from Summercove. Scott O'Sullivan of Sherry FitzGerald guides at €995,000

Summercove, Kinsale Harbour
€995,000
Size	136 sq m (1,450 sq ft)
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2
BER	D1

VICTORIAN and Georgian era homes, as well as 21st century mansions and architectural glass boxes line road out from Kinsale town and down the steep, diving hill of Summercove to the waters of the harbour, but, in age terms, they are only trotting after the much older burly boy on the hill, Charles Fort.

Star turn: Charles Fort: file image 2012 Denis Scannell

The vast military bastion fort by the mouth of the harbour was one of the largest building projects of the 17th century, serving as a defensive structure up the 1890s, and holding within its star shape, ramparts, magazines, batteries and bastions, soldiers’ quarters, officers’ messes and the Governor’s house, as well as an infirmary.

Matters less martial were to be overseen by clergy, and it understood that this Summercove home on the facing hall slope to the fort was built to house men of the cloth, as a clergyman or vicar’s residence.

Charles Cottage

Today called Charles Cottage, the house on a hill and hung with Welsh slate in front is a private family home, about to change hands and fresh to market with a €995,000 AMV quoted by Scott O’Sullivan and Ann O’Mahony of Sherry FitzGerald.

Resales along this cluster are pretty rare, they note and while it’s right on the road in front, the reveal is a large, tiered back garden, over 90’ deep rising up behind, with a central apple tree, as well as having a compact private garage set on the road’s incline, just a few doors uphill from the terraced house itself.

The agents describe Charles Cottage at Summercove/Rincurran as having a unique character and history, “packed with original features and with enormous potential.” Dating to the early 1800s, and thus likely to pre-date the pretty St Catherine C of I Rincurran Parish Church, the ‘cottage’ was extended to the back about two decades ago, has pvc double glazing, replacement fascia, soffit and downpipes and a D1 BER (it’s not a protected structure) and has been very well maintained ever since, says Scott O’Sullivan, who describes it as bright internally with south and westerly aspects and harbour views.

It’s got over 1,400 sq ft/136 sq m inside, with three first floor bedrooms and main bathroom, and at ground is a hall, two reception rooms, one with period marble fireplace and fire basket, with coved ceiling, and the other has a wood burning stove in an arch recess, simple coved ceiling and window shutters.

Behind, the kitchen/dining room is in two sections, with older pine units in one half by a white oil-fired Aga in an arched recess that also provides hot water, and the sink/wash-up with more modern Shaker type units is in the dining area, with overhead Velux and patio access: there’s also a utility and a boot room/storage.

Externally the enclosed garden is a very good size, up above a rear courtyard and has block-built sheds, mature planting and an apple tree in central, pride of place,and currently hanging heavy with shiny red fruits.

VERDICT: Visitors and Kinsale locals alike just love Summercove, with its Cornish village vibe (and, equally, seasonally heavy traffic on its narrow bends), the Bulman bar, sitting out at the pier, taking the Scilly Walk back to town.

The price tag, just shy of a just shy €1m for a street-side three-bed, one-bath home, appears high, but Kinsale is home to more multi-million euro sales than any other Munster location, and Charles Cottage is one of the originals. Hold the fort……