Lodge in heritage town has potential

Slane/€2m: A country house in the centre of a heritage town seems to offer the best of both worlds to its future owner.

New to the market with joint agents HOK Country and Colliers Jackson-Stops is Mount Charles Lodge, a three-bedroom Georgian house on 2.75-acre gardens in Slane, Co Meath.

The house was probably connected in some way with Slane Castle, perhaps a steward's or dower house. No one seems to know its provenance.

The advised minimum value (AMV) of €2 million prior to auction on a date to be confirmed in mid-May takes into account the development potential of the land - a pity, as the gardens are delightful and add rural character.

However, with about 30 metres of road frontage to the N2 Dublin to Derry Road, an attempt to obtain planning permission in the future at Mount Charles Lodge seems inevitable.

A new owner could retain the 146sq m (1,510sq ft) house and some of the garden, hiving off a section with road frontage for a planning application.

While not large, the house is in good decorative order with the perfect proportions of its period, with 12-pane sash windows and tall ceilings.

A long avenue behind stone piers and automatic iron gates leads to a forecourt and Georgian front door. Inside, the drawingroom and formal diningroom have wood fireplaces, one with a brass inset and tiled surround.

A hatch opens to the kitchen from the diningroom. Pine units, granite worktops and an oil-fired Aga give a cosy traditional look to the kitchen and there is an old-fashioned pantry with cupboards and shelves. Upstairs are three good bedrooms with wardrobes and the family bathroom with bath and power shower.

Outside the kitchen door is a lovely restored courtyard with two-bedroom guest apartment, studio/games room, laundry, fuel sheds, potting room and garage/workshop. The grounds are laid out as several mini-gardens, divided by gravel paths, box hedgerows, stone walls and shrubberies.