Thatched 17th century rectory for £300,000

One of the oldest occupied thatched dwellings in Ireland is for sale in Co Wexford. The Sanctuary, Killinick, has been traced back to 1610 and was originally built as the rectory of adjoining Killinick Church.

Situated on two acres in Killinick, a village half a mile from the N25, five miles from Wexford town, the two-storey property is for sale by private treaty through Phoenix Estates, Enniscorthy, which is inviting offers in the region of £300,000.

First impressions of the house, which is at the end of a long treelined drive, are striking: featured on RTE's architectural programme Our House, it has period charm and is in excellent condition.

Seven years ago, the present owners refurbished the property sympathetically. This included re-thatching the roof, creating a front-facing courtyard, installing oil fired central heating, and modernising the bathroom. The rear courtyard has four outhouses with planning permission for two holiday cottages. They could also be converted into offices for a home-based business.

The whitewashed exterior of The Sanctuary is set off by period windows painted a deep yellow, flanked by shutters painted dark blue. The reception hall is decorated in pale green and has a period wooden floor. A charming sittingroom, decorated in shades of soft pink and green, has original wooden ceiling beams, a period fireplace, and period windows with deep sills. The sittingroom opens on to an annexe currently used as a music room. An adjoining small study is used as a home office.

The galley style kitchen has modern fittings and a period wooden floor. A Phillips Whirlpool cooker with ceramic hob and extractor hood is included in the sale. The diningroom has a period wooden floor, most attractive windows, and is heated by a Stanley oil stove which can also be used for cooking. The ground floor bathroom, decorated in shades of pale blue and green, has a bath and Trident electric shower, and combines modern tiling with period panelling.

There are three bedrooms on the first floor, which all have sloping ceilings and period windows and doors. The second bedroom is accessed through the main bedroom and could be converted into an en suite.

Outside, a patio courtyard at the front of the house has stone steps leading up to a large country-style front garden. This informal garden is set in lawn fringed by shrubs and is surrounded by mature hedging. There is also a small orchard area and a vegetable garden, and tucked away in the heart of the garden is a small wooden summerhouse.

The front drive winds around the house to a rear courtyard which provides ample parking.