Georgian by sea has a secret past

The guide price for Hilltown House in Carne, Co Wexford, shows yet again the great disparity in price between country and town…

The guide price for Hilltown House in Carne, Co Wexford, shows yet again the great disparity in price between country and town properties. The large Georgian house, which is on one acre, is for sale though local agents Kehoe & Associates - which is guiding between £180,000 and £200,000 (€228,550-€253,950).

The house, which has wonderful sea views, is close to Lady's Island Lake and the beach that stretches from Rostoontown to Kilmore Quay.

Upstairs there are four bedrooms, all of which are doubles. Downstairs, the entrance hallway has its original fanlight window - the house was built in 1865 - and this opens into a large drawingroom and a diningroom.

At the back of house is the kitchen, which has a solid fuel range and a Belfast sink. Off the rear lobby is a utility room. The family bathroom is also at this level.

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As befits a house of this age, it comes with some colourful local folklore. There is a small, totally enclosed room at the back of the house which was once a smugglers' den - the room originally had two doors.

Also on the site is a garage and the ruins of original stone outbuildings.

While the house has been maintained over the years - it has a new roof - the new owners will most likely carry out extensive renovations. At the very least they will want to move the main bathroom upstairs, or build en suites into the bedrooms. The agents suggest that there is room to extend and build a room over the smugglers' room and the utility area.

This house will appeal to Wexford residents looking for the opportunity to work on a period house. Dubliners looking for an impressive holiday home or even for a move out of the city will also be interested.