Opportunity down at the mill

Co Laois: €1.6mAn elegant Georgian house and a cluster of 1740s mill buildings set among eight acres of rich, verdant grounds at Newtown, Mill Durrow, Co Laois, could attract a good deal of interest from househunters looking for a home and business opportunity in the countryside.

HOK Country has put an AMV of €1.6 million on the property which goes to auction on October 11th.

The 465sq m (5,000sq ft) Virginia creeper-covered house was completely refurbished in 1998.

The owners carried out extensive renovations, including re-plumbing and rewiring, while being careful to retain the original features of the home, such as fireplaces and windows.

A flight of granite steps leads to the front door which opens into a typically grand reception hall with ornate cornices, picture rails, elegant door casements and a staircase with a decorative archway.

The drawing and diningrooms have original timber floors, marble fireplaces and large windows with superb views of the front lawns.

A study and butler's pantry are also on this floor.

The second floor houses four spacious bedroroms. The main bedroom has a fireplace and views of the surrounding landscape.

The kitchen, which is on the garden floor, is part oil fired and part electric.It has terracotta tiled floors and black limestone worktops.

The utility room features timber units with a Belfast sink and is plumbed for a washer and dryer.

Views of the garden can be enjoyed from the terracotta-tiled family room.

The Mill is an impressive four-storey structure with 50 windows.

The mill race enters the building at one end and powers a giant mill wheel which is still in working order.

The ground floor has flagstones and is used for storage.

A workshop metal spiral staircase leads to the first floor. This includes a display room and an office with broadband connection.

A secondary building, called the drying store, which was formerly used for drying grain, is currently being used as storage space. A corrugated iron roof was recently suspended over the stone walls for shelter.

Adjacent to the mill buildings are the stone outbuildings, 25 buildings of approximately equal size (14x5m).

The buildings have recently been partly renovated and, with a few finishing touches, would be suitable for use as accomodation or office space.

Running through the formal gardens of the property is the wide-flowing River Goul with excellent trout fishing.

The millrace runs off the main river and feeds a large millpond before entering the mill itself.

The landscape is dotted with an array of colouful flowers, speciman plants, shrubs and wild grasses.