PICTURES: Home of 19th-century duke, once of of the richest men in the world, goes up for sale

The Fortwilliam Estate is rightly considered one of the jewels of the Blackwater Valley in Waterford.

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Discreetly situated on rising ground above the sparkling river, running through lush inch fields, it commands a spectacular position overlooking the valley with panoramic far-reaching views to the Knockmealdown mountains on the Tipperary borders.

Fortwilliam House with approximately 96 acres is priced at €3,900,000 while the farmyard, stable yard and two cottages on the land with approximately 120 acres are valued at €3,000,000. For all 216 acres (approx), you are looking at €6,900,000 to purchase. 

Set in landscaped grounds, the house is approached via a mile-long tree lined drive which opens out into ancient parkland with many majestic trees before sweeping along the dramatic valley edge to reach the house.

Fortwilliam House is a wonderful family home full of light and life laid out on two floors over a basement and extending to some 11,937 sq. ft. of floor area. Replete with most of its original features and fabric, an extensive and sympathetic programme of renovation and refurbishment has taken place over the last 25 years.

The generous, well-proportioned accommodation includes four exceptional reception rooms, a spectacular double height grand staircase hall with six bedrooms and four bathrooms to the first floor. The lower ground floor includes estate office, billiard room, rod room and wine cellar. The Fisherman's Cottage, situated in the west wing, offers four further bedrooms and three bathrooms and may be incorporated into the house if required.

The charming period stable yard off the main drive includes two cottages whilst the coaching yard includes the recently converted coach house cottage, overlooking the walled garden and valley beyond.

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The Gumbleton family first acquired these lands in the early 18th Century and Richard Gumbleton sited the first house to the west, on the site of an old castle, naming it Castlerichard after himself (now Glencairn Abbey). After a further three generations, in the 19th Century William Gumbleton built a further house on the lands and named it Fortwilliam, once again after himself.

A nephew, John Gumbleton, on inheriting demolished and rebuilt the house in 1836 to the design of the renowned Pain brothers of Cork, also responsible for Adare Manor, Dromoland Castle and Strancally Castle. Fortwilliam passed from the Gumbleton family around 1932 but was repurchased by them in around 1944, selling again in 1946 to Hugh Grosvenor, second Duke of Westminster for a reputed £10,000 to include the pedigree Hereford herd.

At the time one of world's richest men, the duke added various features including the panelling to the dining room which is said to have come from his yacht and the gilded Louis XV-style boiseries in the drawing room. In later years the estate was owned by Henry Drummond Wolfe (MP) and American socialite Mrs Murray Mitchell who ran a donkey sanctuary here in the 1990s. The house was leased in the years between 1887 1925 when Adele Astaire, the sister of Fred, lived here. She married Lord Charles Cavendish, son of the ninth Duke of Devonshire owners of neighbouring Lismore Castle Estate.

Fortwilliam is situated close to Lismore, one of Ireland's most beautiful heritage towns, scenically located on the river Blackwater and at the foot of the Knockmealdown mountains. The property is well placed for access to Cork with its International Airport together with Dungarvan and Waterford.

For more information on this incredible property, you can go here.