Rockfield, Kells, Co Meath
Rockfield House in Kells, Co Meath, sold for close to €3 million in April 2022
The Murtagh Family welcomes you to Rockfield House. Located just outside the heritage town of Kells in Co. Meath, in the heart of the Boyne Valley and Irelands Ancient East, originally built in the 18th century, the house has recently been restored to its former glory but with 21st century comforts.
Sitting on 68 Acres of lush green fields, with 10 bedrooms sleeping up to 30 people and a separate Courtyard 2 bedroom apartment with its own entrance which can accommodate a further 5 people, there is an abundance of space to entertain and and be entertained.
Rockfield House can accommodate groups from 5 to 32 people in the main house. Our newly renovated Gardener’s Lodge can welcome up to 22 people in dormitory style accommodation.
Rockfield House is the optimal venue for family occasions or special birthday parties and we can help you with our unique party entertainment, if you like.
The house can cater for groups of up to 100 and with our group accommodation options you have lots of scope to celebrate in style when your guests to stay over.
The Courtyard Apartment is a luxurious two bedroom apartment overlooking the stables.
The fully equipped kitchen has a dining area for five, while the separate lounge room with open fire and plush period furnishings is a lovely space to relax after a busy day.
Outside, you can ramble around the grounds, check for eggs as you go or visit the Fred and Ted our resident (and rather free-spirited) goats – or they might visit you!
Rockfield House was built by Thomas Rothwell at the end of the eighteenth century. His son Richard carried out improvements around 1840/41. At the time it was built, the Rothwell family owned well over 3,000 acres in County Meath. Thomas Rothwell married Louisa Pratt, daughter of Mervin Pratt and his wife Madeline Jackson of Cabra Castle and Enniscoe House, respectively. Over the generations, the Rothwells married local land-owning families, including Nicholson (Balrath Bury) and Fitzherbert (Blackcastle).
During the 20th century it was owned by the Pigeon and Cameron families and at the turn of the 21st Century it was purchased by Trevor and Bernie Fitzherbert (originally from Blackcastle Estate). They carried out a substantial programme of refurbishment and redecoration and returned the house and surrounding courtyards and walled garden to its former glory.
In 2022 the house was purchased by the Murtagh family, from nearby Causey Farm, with the intention of using it as a place to support foster families with their Nurturing in Nature programme. The current owners also intend to continue the tradition of parties and events that Rockfield has been renowned for over the centuries.
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.
“(Rothwell, LBI1912) An impressive three storey nine bay late C18 house, with an elevation almost identical to that of the nearby Williamstown, so that it can safely be assumed that both houses are by the same architect. Ground floor treated as basement, with channelling. Entrance front with three bay breakfront; small single-storey Doric portico with die and coupled columns; entablatures over first floor windows, pediment over window in centre. Handsome late-Georgian interior. Library with Ionic columns. Curving staircase with ironwork balustrade behind screen of columns, leading up to drawing room and dining room en suite on first floor, which is thus treated as piano nobile.”
not in national inventory
Record of Protected Structures:
Rockfield House, townland: Rockfield. Town: Kells
Detached nine-bay, three-storey late C18 house, central freestanding doric porch, courtyard at rear. Lodges, entrance gates and estate cottages.
Rockfield is an imposing very late 18th century mansion sitting in fine parkland about a mile outside Kells in county Meath. It replaced an earlier house on the same site. The house is 9 bay with the central 3 bays slightly forward. It has 3 storeys , the ground floor somewhat being treated like a basement in the past ( although I’m informed there is an actual part basement too). It has a small portico ,and entablatures dress the piano nobile windows , which they surely are, with the drawing room, dining room and library all on this first floor. The cantilever staircase is a beauty , worthy of this fine home.
I noticed the ” outer” front door is made of steel, perhaps a nod to the security issues of the late 19th century or worse early 20th century( similar to Hilton Park in Co Monaghan maybe).
The Rothwell family origins in Co Meath were probably in the Cannonstown and Berfordstown areas.
I believe it was Thomas Rothwell who constructed the present house at Rockfield, his son Richard carrying out improvements circa 1840/41 to the house and the estate, he also added 3 gate lodges ( his son Thomas adding a 4th later)
There are extensive outbuildings to the rear of the house and the former walled garden must have been a sight to behold given its scale and large pond etc .
In the 1870s Thomas Rothwell held well over 3,000 acres in county Meath( and about 365 in Co. Tipperary too) .He has been educated at Magdalen college in Oxford and was a member of the Kildare St. and conservative clubs. Thomas had married Louisa Pratt, daughter of Mervin Pratt and his wife Madeline Jackson of Cabra Castle and Enniscoe House respectively. Over the generations the Rothwells had married well, including into the local Nicholson( Balrath Bury) and Fitzherbert (Black Castle) families.
In the 1901 census Thomas Rothwell ,aged 66 ,was in residence with his wife and 3 of his daughters. Also staying in the house were 6 servants and 1 visitor .Thomas gave his occupation as DL and JP ( common among the gentry). Interestingly , all the servants, even the lowest ranked , in both the 1901 and 1911 census records, were Protestant. Thomas had died in 1909.
The house had different owners later in the 20th century and as is sadly normal, somewhat deteriorated ,but amazingly, at the beginning of the 21st century it was bought by Trevor Fitzherbert and his wife Bernadette. Trevor was a member of the Fitzherbert/ Fitzherbert-Ruxton family that once owned the Black Castle estate on the outskirts of Navan, the estate had over 2,000 acres in Co. Meath during the 1870/80s, as well as over 2,300 acres in Co. Monaghan. As he was related to the Rothwells, in a sense, the house came back to the family.
Over a period of time , Trevor and Bernadette refurbished the house to the high standard it’s in today. This was a massive task, the roof job alone would have put off many. Rooms were returned to their full size, walls were repaired, iron work , windows, doors, all sorted,the list was long .
Sadly , last year, after a short illness, Trevor passed away , long before he should have.
It’s a credit to them that the house now stands proudly , hopefully for at least another brace of centuries.
Rockfield is just outside Kells town on the road to Athboy. Rockfield is a large two storey house over a low vaulted basement, with a courtyard behind. The yard is earlier than the house so an older house must have stood on the site. The current house is early nineteenth century. The house is similar in design to Williamstown and both may have had the same architect. A curved stone staircase to the first floor is off the entrance hallway. The hall has a period grey marble fireplace and a stone flagged floor. The house had originally three lodges and three avenues. There is a fine Gothic gatehouse dating from 1843.
John Rothwell of Berfordstown, Co. Meath died in 1714 leaving a wife, Mary, four sons and five daughters. His son, John, succeeded him and lived at Cannonstown, the neighbouring townland to Rockfield. John was succeeded by John, son of his second son, Thomas. Richard Rothwell succeeded to his uncle’s estates at Berford and purchased the property of Rockfield from his elder brother. In 1763 he married Mary Lowther, daughter and heiress to Hugh Lowther of Hurdlestown. Their second son, Thomas, inherited the estate in 1780. Thomas was High Sheriff of Meath in 1794. He married twice, firstly to Helena Upton in 1795 and then to Letitia Corry of Shantonagh, Co. Monaghan. Thomas’s son, Thomas took the surname Fitzherbert and inherited Blackcastle and Shantonagh.
Richard Rothwell inherited on the death of his father, Thomas, in 1817. A number of account books and ledgers belonging to the family from this period are in the National Library. Richard, educated at Oxford, was High Sheriff of Meath in 1839. Richard had architect, William Murray, prepare plans for improvements in 1841. Richard was treasurer of the Meath Horticultural Society. He married Elizabeth, only daughter of Rev. Thomas Sutton, rector of Clongill. Elizabeth recorded the detestation caused by the night of the Big Wind in 1839. A sword recovered from Lagore crannog, Dunshaughlin, was presented to the Museum of the Royal Irish Academy by Mrs. Rothwell. The Rothwells had a collection of ancient artefacts which eventually ended up in the National Museum of Ireland. Their eldest son, Thomas, succeeded to Rockfield in 1853. Thomas Rothwell held 3161 acres in Meath and 365 acres in Tipperary in 1883. Educated at Magdalene College Oxford he was a member of the Conservative Club, Kildare Street. High Sheriff of Meath in 1867, he served with the Meath Militia. He married Louisa Catherine Hannah Pratt of Cabra Castle in 1866 and died in 1909 leaving four daughters. In the 1901 census Thomas Rothwell and his family lived at Rockfield. The house was home to the Rothwells until the 1960s. The Cameron family then held Rockfield for thirty years.
https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/homes-and-property/new-to-market/restored-1-75m-georgian-estate-in-co-meath-brought-into-the-21st-century-1.4630736
Restored €1.75m Georgian estate in Co Meath brought into the 21st century
Rockfield House has retained its authenticity and is now ideal for small-scale farming or hosting
Thu, Jul 29, 2021, 06:00
- Address: Rockfield House, Rockfield Road, Kells Co Meath
- Price: € 1,750,000
- Agent: Savills
There are plenty of Georgian piles for sale across Ireland and while the elegantly proportioned abodes look the part, the renovation required to bring many of them up to 21st-century standards is the thing that puts buyers off. It takes time and deep pockets to modernise them gently.
Rockhill House, on the outskirts of Kells, Co Meath, is a compact estate, complete with big period pile, where all the hard – read expensive – work has been done.
This makes it an interesting proposition for a family looking to keep horses and perhaps do some farming, or for an entrepreneur who might see the commercial value in short lets and small weddings, which was the reason Bernie FitzHerbert and her late husband, Trevor, bought the estate in 2001
The 18th-century, nine-bay residence was already a a stylish country house. Situated less than an hour from Dublin it boasts a stone-pillared entrance, sweeping avenue that is partially tree-lined, with a Doric portico and shallow bows to either side greeting you as you arrive out front.
It had been in Trevor’s family until the 1960s, when it was sold. When the couple bought the listed building, it was in need of complete renovation. “The entire roof had to be redone. The previous owner had blocked off the top floor and taken out the staircase,” Bernie recalls.
The couple brought the Georgian Society on board to ensure works, which started in 2008, would be in keeping with the original house and conform to the necessary regulations.
The property, which is set over three floors, has been rewired and replumbed with some of its six over six, single-glaze sash windows reglazed. Six of its eight bedrooms now have en suite bathrooms.
The upgrades took five years to complete and the couple eventually moved in in 2012.
“It lends itself very well to entertaining. We’d some terrific parties, ” Bernie says. Its interconnecting rooms, at piano nobile level, were designed for such soirees. The dining room, library with marble columns, and drawing room all interconnect and frame sweeping views to the south from their large windows. A service kitchen, with dumb waiter, allows for easy food delivery.
At hall level, the ceilings have been decoratively painted by specialist Michael Dillon, the entrance hall has a flagstone floor and its cantilevered staircase sweeps up to the first floor.
There’s a billiards room to the right, and on the left is a sitting room that leads through to the main kitchen and on through to a large utility room. The ground floor is set around a courtyard with store buildings at the gable end.
For sale courtesy Savills Residential and Country Agency:
A82 V9D5 8 beds1485 m2
Magnificent country house with extensive traditional outbuildings and mature grounds Extending to about 65.9 acres (26.6 hectares) in total, Rockfield is a magnificent, compact residential estate. At its core is a superb, fully refurbished country house with beautifully proportioned and well-balanced accommodation. The property comprises mature garden grounds (including a charming walled garden), parkland, and woodland. The agricultural element of the estate comprises productive tillage land and pasture, which is let on a seasonal basis. There is an extensive range of traditional outbuildings to the rear of the house, which provide storage. Accessed via a stone-pillared entrance with cast-iron gates and beautiful overhanging mature trees, Rockfield House is approached along a sweeping gravel avenue lined partially by woodland, which leads to a parking area at the front of the house. Rockfield House dates back to the 18th Century and occupies a private, south-easterly facing position. External features include a Doric portico with shallow bows to either side, white window surrounds and a hip roof. The house has been comprehensively renovated during the seller’s ownership to transform one of the county’s most historic houses into a sumptuous property, fit for hosting lavish house parties and comfortable family living, in equal measure. Rockfield House Rockfield House is a superb period property situated in a private and tranquil setting with stunning views of the rolling countryside. The accommodation is predominantly laid out over three floors and is of generous and elegant proportions, as set out in the accompanying plans. It is in a U-shape of asymmetrical design with a courtyard attached to the rear. The house is approached through a Doric portico entrance that leads to an impressive reception hall. Upon entering the house, an aura of grandeur is evident with period features in the reception hall, which continue throughout the formal reception rooms and bedroom accommodation. With a flagstone floor and marble fireplace, the hall provides access to the billiards room as well as an extensive living/dining room, with a magnificent wooden fireplace and stove. The kitchen is accessed via the living room and is a spacious room with a beautifully crafted and extensive range of floor and wall mounted units. There is an island counter with gas hob and electric oven as well as an AGA cooker. The first floor is accessed via a spectacular cantilever staircase, with the principal accommodation comprising a dining room, drawing room and library, which are all inter connecting and offer excellent potential for formal entertaining, including an adjoining service kitchen with dumbwaiter. The three elegant, light-filled reception rooms include high ceilings and beautiful open marble fireplaces. Situated to the front of the house, these rooms enjoy magnificent and expansive views of the rolling parkland. The first floor also includes the master bedroom with ensuite bathroom and spacious dressing room. The remainder of the bedroom accommodation is located on the second floor, which is accessed via a staircase at the east wing of the house (connecting with the ground floor) and opens to a spacious landing. The landing leads to four generously proportioned bedroom suites and two further bedrooms. An eighth bedroom suite is situated on the ground floor. It is accessed off the billiards room and has a separate external access. Notable internal period features include decorative cornicing, sash windows, hardwood floors, impressive marble fireplaces, feature columns in the reception hall and library, architraves, shutters and woodwork including panelling on doors and staircase. Apartment Situated in the picturesque courtyard is a one-bedroom self-contained apartment, which comprises a sitting/dining room, kitchen and bedroom with ensuite bathroom.
Accommodation
Features
- Renovated period country house
- Accessible location
- 8 bedrooms (6 en suite)
- Self-contained apartment
- Extensive range of traditional outbuildings
- About 57 acres of ring-fenced farmland
BER Details
Exempt
Negotiator
James Butler
Irish Historic Houses 