Ballyarr House in Ramelton
One of Co Donegal’s most stunning houses has been put on the market with a cool asking price of €1,475,000.
Ballyarr House belongs to former Daily Mirror editor and Professor of Journalism, Roy Greenslade and his wife Noreen.
The historic listed house, which is set on 14 acres of stunning gardens and woodlands, even enjoys some fishing rights to the nearby River Lennon.
It is on sale through local estate agents Franklins.
The house is more than 200 years old and enjoys a rich history as well as having undergone some loving renovations down through the centuries.
History of Ballyarr House
Ballyarr House played a role in Ireland’s history and in the story of one of England’s most revered writers. Built in about 1780, it was acquired in 1842 by Lord George Hill, the fifth son of the second Marquis of Downshire, along with the surrounding 200 acres. He had previously bought 23,000 acres in and around Gweedore where his activities as an ‘improving’ landlord who was responsible for evicting tenants still remain a matter of controversy. (Hill’s portrait is reproduced in the mural that is one of the features of the main hall at Ballyarr House).
During Hill’s time the house was visited by the Scottish historian Thomas Carlyle. It was he who described it as ‘a farm-like place’ graced by a ‘piazza’, an Italian-style square that was then considered fashionable.
Hill was married, in 1834, to Cassandra Knight, a favoured niece of the novelist Jane Austen. When she died he married her sister, Louisa, and after his own death in 1879, a third sister, Marianne, arrived. She and Louisa are buried in the nearby Tully graveyard, their gravestones having been recently restored to the delight of the Jane Austen Society.
Their story, which is entwined with the house, has been told in a book May, Lou and Cass: Jane Austen’s Nieces in Ireland by Sophia Hillan (Blackstaff Press, 2011). The house was owned by Hill’s eldest son, Arthur Blundell George Sandys Hill, from 1879 to 1900, when it was sold, along with the adjacent mill, to William Russell.
It remained in the Russells’ hands until it was bought in 1974 by Ian Smith, a former hotelier and British war hero, and his artist wife Peggy. They found it necessary to demolish one wing of the house, which had been barely altered since Lord George’s time. But one large fanlight window was saved and erected in a house in Castle Street, Ramelton, known as ‘The House on the Brae’, which is now owned by the Ramelton Heritage Society.
Ballyarr House was bought in 1981 by Andy O’Loghlin, a bank manager, and his wife Breda. They sold it to Roy and Noreen Greenslade in 1989 and the following year the couple oversaw a substantial restoration in order to return the interior to something like its original Georgian appearance. The drawing room and library were returned to their previous proportions, with the addition of new fireplaces. Ceiling cornices in the main bedroom were restored. The exterior front elevation was also stripped of its stucco to reveal the original stone-work. All in all, it is a gem of a property.
The estate comprises:-
Ballyarr House – 3 reception rooms, 4 bedrooms, kitchen, 2 bathrooms, spacious hallways, conservatory & substantial cellar.
Ballyarr Cottage – 2 reception rooms, 1 bedroom, kitchen, bathroom & utility room
Ballyarr Lodge – part of the original 18th century structure once linked to the main house – 1 reception including kitchen & dining area, 2 bedrooms & 1 bathroom
Ballyarr House
The accommodation is arranged as follows:
Stone steps to half glazed double front doors with wood panelling to either side internally leading to;
Entrance Hall; 7.92m x 3.00m cornice to ceiling, original pine floor, high quality murals of local scenery on 2 walls, door to;
Drawing Room; 8.36m x 4.75m double aspect enjoying far reaching rural views, deep original sash cord windows & wooden shutters, cornice to ceiling, seagrass floor covering, ornate radiator cover, marble fireplace with marble hearth, tv point
Study/Library; 8.33m x 4.45m enjoying panoramic & far reaching rural views to front, deep original sash cord windows & wooden shutters, cornice to ceiling, picture rail, comprehensive range of high quality custom made book shelves with cupboards under, ornate radiator covers, seagrass floor covering, slate period style fireplace with tiled hearth
Dining Room; 4.37m x 2.95m seagrass floor covering, original marble fireplace, ornate radiator cover, picture rail
Rear Hallway; Door to rear lobby, further door to;
Conservatory; 12.19m x 2.13m tiled floor, extensive fitted shelving, glazed door to outside
Cloakroom/WC; (off rear hallway) white 2 piece suite
Kitchen/Breakfast Room; 9.04m x 4.93m decorated & finished in country style with white fitted Welsh dressers, Belfast sink with brass mixer taps over, 2 further fitted dressers with drawers & cupboards below, pine floor, oil fired Aga range with 4 independent ovens, recessed halogen spotlights to ceiling, glazed double doors to steps leading to rear garden
Staircase to first floor;
Mezzanine Landing; Fitted book shelves, aperture to mezzanine landing area, seagrass floor covering, door to walk in hotpress, door to ironing area
Cloakroom/WC; Small loft access
Main Bathroom; 4.80m x 3.05m double aspect with original sash windows & shutters to one side, seagrass floor covering, white enamel 3 piece suite, roll top & claw feet bath with brass mixer taps, shower cradle & attachment, brass taps to wash basin, medicine/towel cupboard with glass doors & vanity mirror over
2nd Bathroom; Original fireplace, Perras white enamel sink with brass taps (Johnston Brothers), fully tiled shower cubicle with Aqualisa power shower, wood panelling to ¾ wall height
Further staircase to;
Main 1st Floor Area; 4.88m x 3.05m enjoying far reaching & panoramic country views over house grounds & beyond, deep original sash window with wooden shutters, seagrass floor covering, ornate radiator cover, original cornice to ceiling
Bedroom 1; 4.78m x 3.66m double aspect with fine country views, original sash windows with wooden shutters, cornice to ceiling, original fireplace with hearth & brass fender
Bedroom 2; 4.75m x 3.10m double aspect with magnificent views over house grounds & countryside beyond, original cornice to ceiling, original fireplace, door to built in cupboard
Bedroom 3; 4.75m x 4.70m views over gardens from 2 deep windows, original cornice to ceiling, range of high quality fitted double wardrobes with panelling & 2 glass doors, range of fitted drawers & book shelves, original ornate fireplace, loft access
Bedroom 4; 4.78m x 4.57m views over garden to side, original fireplace, fitted double wardrobes
Cellar; The property benefits from a first class cellar equating to the same floor area as that of the house, accessed both internally & externally and divided into 5 sections/rooms. The cellar is currently only partially used for wine storage but as it is in first class condition with original floors & refurbished ceilings. It could of course be used for a number of purposes.
Ballyarr Cottage (BER E2)
The accommodation is arranged as follows:
Half glazed front door leading to;
Entrance Vestibule; Tiled floor, door to;
Living Room; 5.79m x 3.96m double aspect enjoying views over the pond & grounds to one side, to the opposite side views over the enclosed walled garden, solid pine floor, Adams style fireplace, tv point, door to;
Dining Room; 4.11m x 2.97m solid pine floor, telephone point, central heating programmer, loft access, half glazed door to outside, further door to;
Kitchen; 3.05m x 2.74m enjoying panoramic views over the ornamental pond & grounds beyond, good range of cream painted wall & base units, work surfaces with tiled surrounding walls, Belfast sink with mixer taps, 4 ring electric hob with electric oven & extractor canopy over, Zanussi dishwasher, solid pine floor
Bedroom; 5.82m x 3.96m (max) double aspect enjoying views over the pond & grounds to one side, to the opposite side views over the enclosed walled garden, range of fitted double wardrobes with cupboards over, bay window with roller blind
Bathroom/WC; Half tiled walls, solid pine floor, white 2 piece suite, fully tiled shower cubicle with power shower & aluminium framed shower unit, door to hotpress
Utility Room; Independent access from the side of property, quarry tiled floor, plumbing for washing machine, wiring for tumble dryer, central heating boiler
Outside; The cottage enjoys the stunning feature of a walled & enclosed garden with a rich diversity of trees & shrubs as well as an ornamental pond feature to the centre. The pond is surrounded by a gravel area.
Ballyarr Lodge (BER E2)
The accommodation is arranged as follows:
Four panelled front door leading to;
Kitchen/Dining/Living Room; 8.23m x 5.72m triple aspect enjoying views over the ornamental pond & garden to the front, further dramatic garden views to side, 2 custom made Welsh dressers with shelving for plates, cups, etc. & enclosed cupboards below, work top, Belfast sink with mixer taps, plumbing for washing machine, 4 ring electric cooker with oven, velux skylight window, solid pine floor, 2 glazed doors to side
Rear Hall Area; With loft access, door to hotpress
Bedroom 1; 4.88m 3.35m large windows overlooking the gardens to side, fitted double wardrobes with chest of drawers & vanity mirror, solid pine floor, velux skylight window
Bedroom 2;4.57m x 2.82m deep window overlooking garden to side, velux skylight window, fitted double wardrobe, solid pine floor
Bathroom/WC; Half tiled walls, solid pine floor, white enamel 3 piece suite, roll top & claw feet bath with mixer taps, shower attachment & cradle, vanity mirror & shaver light over wash basin, fully tiled shower cubicle with aluminium framed shower doors & Triton T90si electric shower
Outside; Gravel area surrounding property providing car parking space
Overall Grounds
The property features in total c.14 acres and the grounds are undoubtedly a feature of this magnificent fully restored country house, surrounding the 3 properties and providing, with its rich diversity of mature trees, absolute privacy and tranquillity. The property is approached via a tree lined drive of some 300 yards and is therefore completely secluded from the road and thus offers absolute privacy. There are lawned areas of garden suitable for summer recreational pastimes and these areas are surrounded by mature trees. There is also a walled garden with a local stone wall of about 8ft in height that can be accessed by both timber double doors to one side and a single door to the opposite side. The 14 acre estate, bordered by woodland and the River Lennon, also includes a pond and assorted out buildings including a stable. A cultivated parkland garden also features a water meadow with a Fairy Fort and 3 acres planted with 5000 native deciduous trees under the aegis of the Forestry Commission.
Outbuildings
A range of outbuildings exist providing storage space for garden equipment and turf or log storage.
Overall floor area c.4000 sq ft (plus basement)
Listed building
Fishing rights on the River Lennon
Each property interior designed to an exceptional standard
Principal residence with mainly seagrass flooring throughout
Oil fired central heating to all properties
Solar energy providing cost free hot water for most of the year
2 solid fuel wrought iron burners
Most original features retained including sash windows, internal timber shutters, fireplaces, floorboards & cornicing
Magnificent secluded & established gardens
