History

The Woodbrook Estate came into being on the marriage of Knightly Chetwood to Hester Brooking at St. Michans church , Dublin in 1698. Hester brought 620 acres of land and Tinakill castle with her as a dowry and in 1700 the couple set about building a residence there. A letter dating as late as 1712 describes "the continued building works and inprovements" to the property. In 1713 Chetwood befriended Jonathan Swift when the latter returned to Ireland on his appointment as Dean of St. Patricks. A long friendship and correspondance ensued. Swift travelled frequently to Woodbrook, using it as his weekend retreat, and it is here in the library that he penned much of Gulliver's Travels. Unfortunately, as with many of Swifts friendships, he and Chetwood had a falling out and spent their latter years not speaking to eachother.

On Feb 17th 1952, Cetwod died in London. His son Valentine, who in 1758 was made High Sherrif of Co. Laois, succeeded him. He in turn passed away in 1771 and was succeeded by his son Jonathan. The family continued to reside on the estate until 1963 when the blood line ran out.

The original house was a modest 2 storey property comprising drawingroom, diningroom, library and 4 bedrooms but like many Irish country houses embellished as family circumstances allowed. In 1750 a grander 3 storey wing was added incorporating a 4 storey tower. A fire in 1790 saw the demise of the drawingroom but cleared the way for the now existing Regency wing. The drawingroom houses a collection of wall paintings dapicting scenes of scottish castles, created to remind the new Mrs Chetwood, a daughter of the Earl of Mann and decendent of the Kings of Scotland, of her homeland. The paintings, executed in the style of Watteau, remain intact to day and have only recently been proved to be the work of the Scottish artist David Ramsay Hay. It is one of 3 complete rooms of his work known to survive the others being 73 Lr. Baggot Street, Dublin 2 and the staircase hall at Preston hall in Scotland.

Synopsis of restoration progress to date

Extensive and sympathic resotration has been undertaken in the last 3 years to restore the property to its former 18th century glory and reinstate a mid 18th century wing complete with 4 storey tower that was lost in the 1970's. Great effort has been taken when restoring, rebuilting or replacing to use materials sympathetic to the original craftsmanship of the house.

The schedule of works to date to the main house include: resotation and replacement of all roofs using reclaimed 18th century slate where required; replacement of all windows with traditional timber sash windows, reinstating the original hand spun 18th century glass where possible and taking the opportunity to install a "Ventrolla" draught exclusion system to all windowsundertook much of the structural repairs necessary but repairs are imcomplete; complete rewiring with 5 separate zones; installation of new oil fired heating system with 5 separate zones; installation of new plumbing with 2.5 bar pressure to power showers in all bedroom suites; installation of a new well with bathing water passing through a softener system; installation of a "Puraflow" sewage treatment system with superfulous capacity for present accommodation, i.e. could potentially take accommodate extension / conversion of outbuildings subject to any necessary consents; installation of Canadian Hot Tub on tower roof terrace; new insulation and fireproofing throughout; wired for a high specification integrated fire alarm system; wired for 3 phone lines, wireless broadband and telecom phonewatch fittings throughout; the external facade has been restored, weatherproofed and painted along with the replacement of all gutters and downpipes.

An impressive and substantial late-Georgian house comprising 2 and 3 storeys privately set within its own lands.

Extensive and sympathetic resoration over the last 3 years included the rebuilding of a mid 18th century wing complete with 4 storey tower and undertook much of the structural repairs necessary but repairs are incomplete.

Represents an opportunity for a potential purchaser to complete and decorate the house to their liking and perhaps consider a commercial use, subject to any relevant consents.

Approx. 39ha hectares / 98 acres with teh lands mainly laid to pasture interspersed with maturing parkland trees.

About 1398 square metres / 15,078 square feet comprising in brief: reception hall, stair hall, 6 reception rooms, Orangerie, Master Bedroom Suite, 12 further bedroom suites, selection of offices and stores.

Gate Lodge (1 bedroom), large selection of stone outbuildings and yards, 2 walled gardens.

Portarlington 4km / 2.5 miles

Emo 7km / 4.5 miles

Portlaoise (train) 16km / 10 miles

Kildare (Arrow train) 24km / 15 miles

Dublin City 82km / 51 miles (Distances approximate)

Dublin Airport 90 minutes drive

The Heritage Killenard Hotel & Golf Club 5 minutes drive

The K-Club 50 minutes drive

The Curragh Racecourse 25 minutes drive

Punchestown Racecourse 35 minutes drive (times approximate)

Accommodation in brief

Entrance hall: with ornate domed ceiling.

Drawingroom: with original grey marble fireplace. Suite of oilpaintings by David Ramsy Hay depicting scenes of Scotland. Wired for telephone, smoke alarm and music.

Diningroom: with original Kilkenny marble fireplace. Silver cupboard. Wired for telephone, smoke alarm, music and service bell to kitchen.

Staircase hall: with ornate ceiling and decorative arched window.

Library: with original fitted bookcases including "secret"door and original Kilkenny marble fireplace. Wired for telephone, smoke alarm, music and tv.

Breakfastroom: with original Kilkenny marble fireplace. Wired for telephone, smoke alarm and music.

Kitchen: with full range of bespoke cupboards and granite countertops. Full range of integrated appliances including two oven aga, 4 electric ovens, twin microwaves, twin dishwashers, 5 ring gas hob, twin 6ft refridgerators. Trapdoor to vaulted 17th cent cellar. Wired for telephone, smoke alarm and music.

Galleried hall: overlit by ornate dome. Grey marble fireplace. Wired for smoke alarm and music.

Billard room: with fireplace. Wired for telephone, smoke alarm, music and tv.

Study: Anteroom with fireplace leading to octagonal study. Wired for telephone, smoke alarm, music and tv.

Orangerie: with double glazed pvc roof. 4 pairs of timber doubledoor with fanlights opening to south facing garden. Wired for telephone and music.

Master suite with fireplace. Wired for telephone smoke alarm (alarm bell wired to rear of bed head), tv, and security lights in grounds.

Leading to dressingroom and master bath plumbed for bath, seperate shower, wc, twin whb, twin heated towelrails

12 further bedrooms all with bathrooms ensuite. Wired for smoke alarm (alarm bell wired to rear of bed head) and telephone. All ensuites plumbed for bath/shower, wc, whb and heated towel rail.

Selection of offices and store rooms including strongroom.

Gardens & grounds

A Gate Lodge located at the entrance gates has been rewired, replumbed and a new kitchen installed and comprises a living room, kitchen, shower room and mezzanine bedroom.

Extensive yards behind the house comprise a large range of stone outbuildings in varying repair, some benefitting from being re-roofed in natural slate. Immediately beyond these yards lie 2 walled gardens.

The lands are mainly laid to pasture and benefit from extensive re-fencing and tree planting (c. 1000) in recent years, including an avenue of limes and planting to re-establish parkland lost in the 1970's. Also filled in around this time was a large lake in the field off the avenue and north and east of the house which could possibly be reinstated.

Fixtures & Fittings

Light fittings overmantles, furniture, gardens stantary, machinery excluded but available by seperate negotiation.

Legal & Protected Status

Freehold title with vacant possession. Woodbrook House is listed as a protected structure in the Laois County Development Plan.