Ballyin, Lismore, Co Waterford
Mark Bence-Jones. A Guide to Irish Country Houses (originally published as Burke’s Guide to Country Houses volume 1 Ireland by Burke’s Peerage Ltd. 1978); Revised edition 1988 Constable and Company Ltd, London.
p. 23. “(Anson, sub Lichfield, E/PB) A miller’s house to which the prosperous flour-miller P. Foley added a new front in early C19, of three bays with a one bay breakfront and pedimented gable. Round-headed windows. Bought in 1930s by Hon Claud Anson.”
Detached three-bay two-storey mill owner’s house, c.1825, retaining some original fenestration with single-bay two-storey gabled breakfront, single-bay two-storey side elevations, single-bay two-storey lean-to lower return to north continuing into four-bay two-storey lower service wing to north. Renovated, c.2000, with façade enrichments added to front (south) elevation. Now in private residential use. Pitched slate roof (gabled to breakfront; lean-to to return; pitched to service wing) with rolled lead ridge tiles, grouped (four) rendered diagonal chimney stacks, and replacement uPVC rainwater goods, c.2000, on overhanging rendered eaves having paired consoles to front (south) elevation, and retaining original cast-iron downpipes. Unpainted replacement cement rendered walls, c.2000, to main block with rendered quoins to corners, stringcourse to first floor, and band to eaves to breakfront. Painted lime rendered walls to service wing. Square-headed window openings to main block (round-headed to ground floor end bays and to first floor breakfront) with cut-stone sills (forming balconettes to first floor front (south) elevation on consoles), and moulded rendered surrounds having entablature over to ground floor breakfront, and archivolt to first floor. 3/6 and 6/6 timber sash windows with glazed timber French doors to ground floor breakfront approached by four cut-stone steps. Square-headed door opening to return with glazed timber panelled door. Square-headed window openings to service wing with cut-stone sills. 3/3 and 6/6 timber sash windows with some timber casement windows, and some openings having wrought iron bars. Set back from road in own grounds with landscaped grounds to site. (ii) Detached four-bay single-storey rubble stone mono-pitched outbuilding, c.1825, to north-west with single-bay single-storey recessed end bay to right (north). Mono-pitched slate roof with clay ridge tiles, and cast-iron rainwater goods. Random rubble stone walls with lime mortar. Square-headed window openings with no sills and timber boarded fittings. Square-headed door openings with tongue-and-groove timber panelled doors. (iii) Detached six-bay two-storey rubble stone outbuilding, c.1825, to north. Now in ruins. Pitched roof now gone with no rainwater goods on squared rubble stone eaves. Random rubble stone walls with lime mortar. Square-headed slit-style window openings with no sill, and no fittings. Camber-headed door openings with squared rubble stone voussoirs, and fittings now gone. (iv) Single-arch rubble stone footbridge over mill race, c.1825, to south. Irregular coursed squared rubble stone walls with cut-stone coping to parapet. Single elliptical arch with cut-stone voussoirs. Sited spanning mill race with grass banks to mill race. (v) Gateway, c.1825, to south comprising pair of cut-sandstone piers with cut-stone capping, hoop iron double gates, and sections of random rubble stone flanking walls to perimeter of site having squared rubble stone coping.
Appraisal
A well-composed middle-size house that is of initial significance for its associations with the adjacent Ballyin (Flour) Mill (22902118/WD-21-18). Well maintained, the house retains its original form and much of its original character, while important salient features and materials survive intact. A number of attendant structures to the grounds enhance the group quality of the site, including a range of outbuildings in varying states of repair, a discreet footbridge, and a gateway of simple design merit.
23.4.21
ONE OF THE HISTORIC HOUSES OF THE BLACKWATER VALLEY, BALLYIN GARDENS INCLUDES TWO GUEST COTTAGES IN AN UTTERLY IDYLLIC SETTING ON C.2.78HA(C.6.87ACRES). SPECIAL FEATURES – Period main house plus two additional guest houses – Just under seven acres of historic mature gardens laid out by the Dukes of Devonshire – c.400m of private salmon and trout fishing on the River Blackwater – Orchards, lawns, woodlands and sweeping gardens providing privacy and tranquillity – A short walk to the heritage town of Lismore – Tax incentives for garden upkeep, subject to conditions
DESCRIPTION Described as a sight which no visitor should ever miss, Ballyin Gardens were laid out in the 1700s. Those centuries of foresight, love and care have created an extraordinary swathe of lush beauty in one of the most picturesque parts of the South East of Ireland. On the banks of the River Blackwater, renowned all over the world for its rich fishing, Ballyin Gardens has its own private beat, making it a fantasy come to life for aficionados. Meanwhile, the spectacular gardens will endlessly reward horticulturalists, or those with a love of nature in all its seasonal beauty. From spring’s carpet of thousands of daffodils, to the huge camellias and rhododendrons in full bloom, to the flowering of the rose gardens and numerous hydrangeas, this is an extraordinary and uniquely special spot. The Georgian era property was once the Deanery for St Carthage’s Cathedral, and the grounds were maintained by the Lismore Estate, Irish Seat of the Dukes of Devonshire. The main house was once a vast mansion, but in 1726 fire demolished the majority of it, leaving only one wing, now the main house. The guest lodge and coach house were built in the early 19th century. Now you have a much more manageable, and utterly charming three bedroomed property, with two additional guest houses, giving ample scope for family living, rental income, or other ventures. The gardens were formerly on the Waterford Garden Trail, which takes in sister properties including Mount Congreve, Salterbridge House, Cappoquin House, Tourin and Lismore Castle. Some of these neighbouring houses also host recitals during the Blackwater Valley Opera Festival, and dinners at the West Waterford Festival of Food, meaning that you have immediate access to an exceptional, welcoming and varied cultural life. Opening the gardens on public days qualifies for tax incentives for their upkeep.
BALLYIN GARDEN HOUSE The house and guest cottages at Ballyin Gardens are all delightful spaces. The main house features a generous reception hall, triple aspect drawing room with open fire and marble surround, and French windows to the gardens. To the left of the hall, a large dining room leads in turn to the kitchen with a utility room / pantry off. The kitchen gives on to a pretty sunroom. This opens to a sheltered patio. Upstairs, the three bedrooms are all doubles. The very beautiful dual aspect master is en-suite, with a 15ft high ceiling decorated with historic cornicing, and has deeply inset windows with wonderful garden and river views. The other two bedrooms share a family bathroom and there is also a study at this level. Overall, the house is a charming, easy living space with an atmosphere of history and many original features intact. Here, you benefit from all the amenities of a Great House, in terms of gardens, outbuildings and grounds, but with a more manageable footprint.
GARDENS AND GROUNDS Ballyin Gardens are both famous and spectacular. The earliest parts go back to the 1500s, and fragments of history are to be found everywhere, from an old archway dating from a much earlier life as a monastery, to garden sculptures, to beautiful walled gardens, and tree-lined walks. It takes lifetimes to create a garden such as this. The planting, inspired by the husbandry of the Dukes of Devonshire, who took care of the grounds from the 1800s, was created with an eye to the pleasure of future generations. Today you benefit from beautifully mature rhododendrons, hydrangeas, azaleas, camellias, specimen trees including the largest Monterey Cypress in the county, and more. Visitors to the gardens over the years have included such luminaries as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. The land is lush and fertile, with fruit trees, soft fruit cages, and vegetable gardens, as well as a rose garden, smooth lawns, aromatic borders and hidden paths and meandering walkways. Of particular note to sports fishermen and enthusiasts is the approximately 400m of private fishing, on one of Ireland’s most prolific salmon rivers, that comes with the house. Add the huge potential afforded by the additional guest cottages and coach house, ripe for conversion and you have an obvious income stream, or you may wish to keep this perfect place entirely to yourself as the ultimate Irish seat, and retreat. LOCATION On the banks of the famed River Blackwater, Ballyin Gardens occupies a key position as one of the historic houses of the Blackwater Valley, part of a cultural network that includes the Blackwater Valley Opera Festival. The heritage town of Lismore is within walking distance, and the Lismore golf club is next door. Lismore itself has a lovely community feel, with good schools, a tennis club, and a farmer’s market at the Castle gates. The Summerhouse Café and Foley’s bar and restaurant are favourite local spots. A riverbank walk brings you to the beautiful and historic St Carthage’s Cathedral and on to Lismore Castle, the Irish seat of the Dukes of Devonshire. The gardens here are open during the summer, as is the contemporary art gallery. Hill walkers will enjoy the Knockmealdown Mountains, while the Blackwater is known around the world for fishing. The coastal town of Dungarvan is a short drive away. Home to a burgeoning foodie scene, there’s a popularFood Festival every spring, and the town is home to Paul Flynn’s famous Tannery Restaurant and Townhouse. Waterford City and Cork International Airport are both less than an hour away, making this an ideal place to live in a beautiful landscape, yet within easy reach of national and international connections. – 1 km / 15 minutes walk to Lismore – 25 km / 22 minutes drive to Dungarvan – 60 km / 50 minutes drive to Cork – 68 km / 50 minutes drive to Cork Airport – 68 km / 1 hour drive to Waterford – 93 km / 1 hr 40 minutes drive to Limerick – 215 km / 2 hr 40 minutes drive to Dublin – 226 km / 2.5 hour drive to Dublin Airport All distances and times are approximate. SERVICES – LPG Central Heating – Mains Water and Electricity – Private Drainage
The first guest cottage has four bedrooms, over two floors. Two of these are en-suite. There is also a kitchen, dining room and sitting room. The third cottage – a very sweet space, is single storey and has one en-suite bedroom, a kitchen and sitting room. Meanwhile a large two-storey coach house has huge additional potential.
BER Details
BER: E1 BER No: 110251931 Performance Indicator: 300.54
Negotiator Details
Roseanne De Vere Hunt
Viewing Information
Irish Historic Houses 
