This Kilkenny church has been converted into a dream home - and is now FOR SALE!

TAP '>' ARROW ABOVE FOR NEXT PIC

The Old Church, White's Castle, Knocktopher, Co. Kilkenny

2 beds - 3 baths - 166m2

ASKING PRICE: €485,000 

The Old Church is a unique opportunity to purchase a landmark building, which was converted to a private residence in the early 1990s. The current owners purchased the property in 1999.

The property is a historical listed building, benefiting from grants of up to 50% for maintenance and restoration works.

In the Belfry, there is a large bronze bell (200 years old) engraved with the names of the donors and the founder, a piece of history/heritage, still in use.

The living room is decorated with a large fresco which is a signed work. All plumbing, electricity and heating have been recently upgraded to a modern standard, with 11 radiators throughout the property.

Almost all windows are lined on the outside with protective glass to ensure security and thermal insulation. The light filled and spacious accommodation extends to 166 Sq. M. / 1,787 Sq. Ft. approx. (not including the basement level which extends to 12 Sq. M. / 129 Sq. Ft. approx.)

The layout at ground floor level comprises: entrance porch, entrance hall, two guest WCs, inner hall, living/dining room, sitting room, kitchen and a rear hall.

The layout at lower ground floor level comprises: entrance hall and a home office/work room which was originally a kitchen and still in perfect working order with water, sinks and cupboards. he layout at first floor level comprises: bedroom one, bathroom and mezzanine/bedroom two. The basement level comprises: boiler/store room.

Sir Robert Langrishe granted the site for the Church of Ireland Church on the 25th October 1828. It was part of the lands of White's Castle.

Its measurements at the time was one rood and 26 perches. The Church was built by a loan from the Board of First Fruits, at a cost of £1,107 and 13 shillings and 10 and a quarter pence. It was consecrated on the 7th November 1829. It was accidentally burned and rebuilt in 1912.

The architect was J F Fuller. Prior to the building of Knocktopher Church in 1828, the Old Abbey Church of Knocktopher which is opposite the Carmelite Church now in ruin, was used by the Church of Ireland for Protestant worship from the Reformation until 1828. The Church was dedicated to St David. The Parish of Knocktopher was added to St Peters Ennisnag in 1942.

GARDEN AND GROUNDS: The Old Church is accessed through an impressive, curved cut stone entrance with decorative wrought-iron gates. A high wall runs along the boundary line with the road. The fully enclosed and private site extends to circa 0.27 Acre / 0.11 hectares. There is plenty of secure off-street parking.

LOCATION: Knocktopher is a picturesque village in County Kilkenny. It is situated on the R713 road between the villages of Stoneyford to the north, and Ballyhale to the south. It was formerly situated on the N10 national route until being bypassed by the M9 motorway in June 2008. The Old Church is conveniently located just a 3-minute drive to the M9 Motorway (exit 10) allowing easy access to Waterford (27-minutes), Kilkenny (18-minutes), Carlow (31-minutes), Kildare (1-hour) and Dublin (1-hour & 29-minutes) approx. There are many amenities in close proximity including the recently extended and refurbished state of the art Carroll's Centra Supermarket and Emo Oil Service Station (located directly across the road from The Old Church), Irish's Bar and Knocktopher Abbey. A 5-minute drive will take you to the neighbouring village of Ballyhale which has many important amenities including Scoil Aireagail mixed-gender secondary school, Scoil Phádraig primary school, Ballyhale Creche and Montessori School, Billy's Tearooms & Shop, Kissane's Pharmacy, Ballyhale Health Centre, Prendergast Tyres, Tirlán Country life Ballyhale and Mountain View Restaurant and wedding venue. A 6-minute drive will take you to the village of Stoneyford which has many amenities including Knockdrinna Café, Malzards Bar and Scoil Naisiunta Chiarain Naofa primary School. Castlemorris Wood with its tree looped peaceful walks is located less than a 5-minute drive from the property. The luxury five-star Mount Juliet Estate Hotel and Golf Club in Thomastown is in close proximity and is just an 8-minute drive from The Old Church. Thomastown has many amenities including Supervalu and Lidl supermarkets, three pharmacies, post office, a farmer's market, restaurants, coffee shops, library, and Thomastown Train Station. The historic village of Kells is a 11-minute drive away and has some amenities including Bobs Shop, Scoil Bhridhe primary school and The Kings Mill Restaurant.

Viewing of this unique property is highly recommended.

Sherry FitzGerald McCreery (056 772 1904)