Ireland’s historical links with our nearest neighbours across the Irish Sea mean our countryside is dotted with houses, estates and castles established many generations ago by various families or settlers that have landed on our shores down through the ages.

Many of these holdings have withstood the test of time and remind us today of the architectural ambition of past generations. Some of the best-known old estates and castles in this country have been preserved by dedicated owners and adapted into some of our finest hotels, resorts or wedding venues.

Sadly, however, many more houses and estates all around the country are not so lucky and have fallen into disrepair over the years and, quite often, into total ruin. The skeletons of these by-gone glories can be seen in every county, with only a few old records remaining of their history.

One such estate that has fallen into decay over more recent times is Landenstown House, a 338-acre estate not far from the village of Sallins, Co Kildare. The drive out towards Landenstown is very scenic as the road takes you along the banks of the Grand Canal. The entrance to the old estate is located adjacent to a lock in the canal, where the road sweeps away to the right but the gates can be seen into the left.

Gate lodges

The first thing of note as you enter Landenstown are the two single storey gate lodges on either side of the gateway that are in need of complete repair. From here, the roadway snakes its way through a grove of well-established trees right up to the house and farmyard.

I’ve no doubt that this was once a most impressive entrance to Landenstown estate, with the open lands on your left-hand side as you skirt your way towards the old house along the tree line. Today, it is a more subdued drive as you can clearly see the signs of an estate left idle for too many years.

However, there is massive potential in the lands surrounding the house and farmyard and now that Landenstown house is on the market, there is no reason that potential cannot be realised. The bones of the working farmyard can still be seen with a five-bay hay shed with lean-to as well as various other cattle sheds, stables and outhouses.

While the farm has been left idle for the last four or five years, Landenstown was previously home to 250 cattle, with another portion of the land under tillage. Walking through some of the huge open fields, some of which are 60 to 70 acres in size, it is clear that most of the work required to bring the lands at Landenstown back to a productive state is mainly cosmetic. The ground is of the free-draining nature associated with Kildare and mainly in need of some general improvement. What will require far more attention is the house itself.

Significant investment

Old pictures from the 1950s reveal just what a striking country house Landenstown was in its prime, but sadly today the main house is in need of full restoration, which will require significant investment.

The six-bed country house was constructed in the mid-18th century and extends to more than 8,500 sq ft. On the ground floor, a large entrance hall extends off to a large drawing room and separate dining room. There is also a library room as well back kitchen and pantry.

The sale of Landenstown House and Estate is being handled by Sherry Fitzgerald, Dublin 4, who is guiding the property in its entire at €6.5m. The estate can also be sold in lots, with the house and remaining 268 acres for sale as lot 1. There is a 70-acre block dissected from the main estate by the canal and this can be sold as lot 2. The buyer profile for an estate like Landenstown is narrow. From an agricultural point of view, the 338 acres of land has massive potential, but not many farmers will want a listed house like Landenstown.

In any other part of the country it might be practical to restore the house to its original state as a modern day hotel or guest house, but the Kildare and commuter belt area outside Dublin would appear to be well served with commercial hospitality locations like Carton House and Killashee.

According to selling agent Philip Guckian of Sherry Fitzgerald, the future of Landenstown Estate may best be served as an equine enterprise or stud farm as Sallins is not far from the heart of Ireland’s bloodstock industry. Added to this, the size of the block of land, the old stables and tack rooms already in situ at the estate may tempt someone from that sector to make the investment this once proud estate so sorely needs.