There are echoes of Zulu and Afghan battlefields on an aristocratic 110-acre Waterford estate now a private stud farm

EVER HEARD of Lieutenant-Colonel Lord William Leslie de la Poer Beresford, Knight Commander of the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire? No? What on earth has happened to history teaching in our schools?

His Lordship, son of the 4th Marquess of Waterford, was a household name in late-19th century Ireland – well, at least in the better-class of household that took The Irish Times. Known affectionately as "Fighting Bill", according to his biographer he joined the British army and won the Victoria Cross for gallantry during a battle with "savages" on July 3rd, 1879 at Ulundi, Zululand.

Back when men were men and sported handlebar moustaches rather than man-bags, he was famed for exploits as diverse as smuggling a polecat into Eton (where he was regularly flogged for bunking off to the races at Ascot) and taking his pet badger into Pratt’s (that’s the gentlemen’s club in St James’s, London – not the Fiat dealership in Carlow). He was an all-round sportsman who loved “fisticuffs, American cock-fighting, hunting, racing [and] polo”. What a splendid chap!

During a glittering military career with the 9th Queen’s Royal Lancers, which began in Cahir, Co Tipperary, he served with considerable distinction in India and was a “star” of the Afghan War. (Isn’t it dragging on?) He was a dab-hand at pig-sticking – his way of relaxing after polishing off scores of pesky tribesmen up the Khyber Pass.

In civilian life, he was a passionate – and hugely successful – racehorse owner. He died in 1900, aged 53, after succumbing to peritonitis brought on “by eating game that was too high” and is buried at Clonagam Churchyard, Co Waterford.

But the horsey old genes live on, because Lord Beresford’s old home – a Georgian estate, serendipitously called Georgestown House – near the Co Waterford village of Kill is today run as a private thoroughbred stud farm.

The listed, classic Georgian house, with 465sq m (5,000sq ft) of accommodation on an estate of 110 acres, is today owned by Dublin businessman Pat Garvey and his wife, Rita, and is for sale by private treaty with an asking price of €3.9 million. The agents are Robert Ganly and Celia Lamb at Knight Frank.

The vendors said they bought the estate 10 years ago and have “upgraded the property substantially” by buying extra land “to create a fine integrated stud farm with the best of equestrian facilities – in a wonderful part of the world”.

They are “moving on reluctantly” because of other business commitments and because their grown-up children have no real interest in the horse business.

The estate has good road frontage and three separate gated entrances.

The house is approached by an avenue, which curves around a natural, spring-fed lake, and over a stone bridge. A gravelled forecourt is sheltered by mature trees. A flight of 10 wide stone steps, flanked by Doric columns, leads to a double front door.

The six-bedroom house is in excellent condition, and is decorated in classic country house style. It has all the expected features, from fanlights and marble fireplaces to sash windows with working shutters.

The ground floor – which has large drawing and diningrooms — has been extended at the rear by the addition of a spacious, glass-walled sunroom opening onto a wisteria-clad patio. Four of the bedrooms are on the first floor of the main part of the house; with a further two in a west wing.

A “country” kitchen is fully fitted with granite tops, a central island, an Aga cooker and a roomy window seat. Off the kitchen is a large pantry/wine cellar, laundry/utilities room, walk-in linen room and a sittingroom/library.

Outbuildings are devoted to extensive stabling, horse walkers, staff quarters and even a gym to keep grooms in tip-top shape.

Behind the house, a large, gently sloping walled garden is dotted with fruit trees and flowering shrubs and contains a tennis court. A vegetable garden, discreetly boxed-in by hedge, is well-planted and provides crops of vegetables, herbs, redcurrants, gooseberries, strawberries and raspberries. The land is mainly devoted to fenced and watered paddocks.

The agents were keen to point out that “both the Waterford Foxhounds and the Woodstown Harriers are within easy boxing distance”.

The estate is also a haven for the pukka set with no less than two of Ireland’s 10 remaining polo clubs at hand: the Waterford Polo Club and the Curraghmore Polo Club.

By Jove! Lord William would find that not a lot has changed.