From a farming prospective, Lisselan Estate, Clonakilty, Co Cork, would have been locally renowned for its acclaimed pedigree Holstein herd (now dispersed) by winning some of the top show accolades for its superior generics.

But for visitors to the area, Lisselan has the reputation as a haven of colour and beauty, with no less than 30 acres of glorious gardens that overlook the natural contours of the Argideen River. For many couples, these gardens have provided the backdrop to some amazing wedding photos down through the years and are a “must-see” for anybody visiting the area.

Standing on 315 acres, the current owners, the Blackburn family, acquired Lisselan back in 1990. Over the last 23 years they have developed and maintained the estate to an extremely high standard.

Today, they are offering their entire holding, that includes an 1850s’ French-style Chateau, a nine-hole golf course, a club house, a Ford museum, a range of staff cottages and lodge houses, and a farmyard, for sale by private treaty.

Once the ancestral home to the grandfather of motoring pioneer Henry Ford, as well as being the owner of the 1996 Cheltenham Gold Cup champion, Imperial Call, Lisselan Estate offers an abundance of charm, natural beauty, privacy and sheer elegance. Jointly for sale by private treaty through Sherry FitzGerald, Dublin, Sherry FitzGerald Ray O’Neill, Clonakilty, and Knight Frank, Dublin, this stunning West Cork estate is not for the faint hearted when it comes to money. The guide price is a cool €9 million, which certainly puts it into the elite category. Being the ancestral home to Henry Ford, possible interest from the US is anticipated, as well as widespread international enquiries. Interestingly, David Ashmore from Sherry FitzGerald remarked that overseas buyers accounted for 65% of the country house market last year.

Lisselan House

Dating back to the early 1850s, Lisselan House is a French-style three-storey over basement Chateau built by William Bence-Jones. Still retaining many of its original period features, the 10,700 square feet residence comes with high ceilings, ornate cornicing, open fireplaces, original wood flooring and sash windows. Both the drawing and dining rooms are ideal for entertaining as each opens out into the beautifully manicured gardens and terrace.

Accommodation includes three reception rooms, a large library, kitchen, gun room, cloak room, large conservatory and Bavarian room on the ground floor, with seven/eight bedrooms and four bathrooms on the first and second floors. The basement has a snooker room, wine cellar, store room, laundry, two staff bedrooms and a staff sitting room.

Having completed the house, William Bence-Jones went on to complement its wonderful setting by establishing 30 acres of gardens that overlook the Argideen River and valley. And these gardens don’t just blossom for one season – there is colour in the Lisselan gardens practically all year round, from the camellias and daffodils in early spring to the bluebells in May and the Fuchias in August and September.

The gardens feature specimen trees, flagstone pathways, rustic bridges, an orchard, a walled garden that grows berries and vegetables, and a rockery.

With extensive frontage to the Argideen River, the prospective purchaser will have elite private access to salmon and sea trout fishing. In all, there is 1,170 metres of double-bank fishing and 455 metres of single-bank fishing.

Golf

For the golf enthusiast, there is a picturesque nine-hole golf course set on 80 acres of parkland which was built by the Blackburn family. Described as one of the “most challenging but picturesque golf courses around”, the course features two trains that bring the golfers from one hole to another, where necessary. In 1996, it was voted by Fore Magazine as one of the 10 favourite courses in Europe.

Furthermore, there is a 2,500 square feet clubhouse that features a reception room, changing rooms and offices.

Despite having an extensive range of farm buildings, the farmyard is in need of restoration and upgrading. Buildings include a disused milking parlour, three silage pits, two cubicle sheds suitable for 88 cows and a calf house with 60 pens. There is also a calving shed, nine stables, cubicle shed with 54 spaces, a grain store and slurry storage for 200,000 gallons.

In terms of land usage, there are 170 acres of farmland, 30 acres of gardens, an 80-acre golf course, while the remaining comprises pockets of mature woodland.

In addition to Lisselan House which extends to 10,000 square feet, there is also a two-storey, one-bedroom staff cottage (Pear Tree cottage), and a further three bungalows that each contain two bedrooms.