Few country houses combine elegance, romance and intimacy as beautifully as Whitfield Court, Kilmeaden, Co Waterford, a Greco-Italian style villa on 200 acres now on the market through HOK Country at £3.5 million (€4.4 million).
Situated about 6 km outside Waterford city on the main Cork Road, Whitfield Court was formerly the seat of the Christmas family, a merchant clan emerging in the late 17th century. The present two and three-storey over basement house dates from about 1841. Its distinctive sturdy Italian-style towers with shallow pyramidal roofs on the front elevation are believed to have been added in the 1860s. Whitfield has been in the family of the present owners, Major Hugh Dawnay and his wife Maria Ines, since 1916 when his grandmother, Lady Susan Dawnay, purchased it shortly after the death of her husband at Ypres. Major Dawnay, who inherited Whitfield in 1970, has run a polo school on the estate which people of more than 30 nationalities have attended.
Formerly widely believed to be the work of Dublin architect Abraham Denny, recent research now suggests the hand of Daniel Robertson, particularly on the evidence of the magnificent imperial staircase and staircase hall around which the five principal reception rooms, including drawing, dining, library, study and breakfastroom are arranged.
Whitfield Court, surrounded by lawn, stands on a slightly elevated site with terraces in a parkland setting complete with some woodland. Wrought iron entrance gates directly off the N25 truck road lead past the Italian-style lodge to the formal drive which extends for 1 km to the gravelled forecourt of the house. A disused but more romantic approach also remains passing through the wood from the far side of the valley and up to the house.
The exterior is faced in stucco with granite dressings. The main entrance features four pillars and this motif is echoed inside in the wonderful stair hall with its array of Corinthian columns and pillars. Just as the exterior windows have pediments decorated with scrolls, this design is also repeated indoors in the timber architraves. Even more dramatic is the north-east elevation, with its curved portico leading across the lawn to stone steps.
Among the beauties of this house is the use of Portland stone in the hall floor and fireplace, staircase hall and stairs, as well as the neo-classical plaster-work.
The entrance hall heads to the drama of the cool staircase hall which leads to the formal drawingroom, with its large bay and French doors leading to a series of stone steps. This is a comfortable, welcoming room as is the library with its original bookcases. It in turn leads to the diningroom. The study serves as a smaller, less formal drawingroom, while the breakfast room is a versatile space. These rooms have oak floors and marble fireplaces.
Well served by pantry, larder, winestore, laundry and boot rooms is the sunny kitchen with its four-oven oil fired Aga cooker. It remains traditional while also being practical and efficient. There are fitted cupboards. Stainless steel sink units have replaced the expected Belfast sinks. Whitfield must possess one of the loveliest back doors in Ireland, its rear exit opening out on to one of the courtyards: it is a classic Georgian doorway complete with fan light. Upstairs there are 11 bedrooms. Five superior rooms, three en suite, the remaining two with adjoining bathrooms, belong to the main house, while the six remaining, also impressive, situated off the rear landing, were once the servants' quarters.
Lady Susan added the pleasant loggia, which overlooks a small outdoor swimming-pool. Maria Ines has developed a Christmas tree decoration business as well as maintaining the house with flair and understanding. The well-loved, light-filled Whitfield Court is in walk-in condition, although the stables, outhouses and attractive brick courtyards need to be upgraded.
