a day ago
Stepping it out at €610k Ledbury in Conna with nod to super hoofers Flatley & Monty's Pass
SUPER hoofers — human and animal — have ties with Ledbury, a gallopingly good split-level property in Conna.
Ledbury's connections with speed and stamina are as follows: The Waterford joiner that built the staircase in Castlehyde for Lord of the Dance's Michael Flatley, also made the staircase at Ledbury; the horse that won the 2003 Aintree Grand National, Monty's Pass, trained in the yard next door.
Staircase at Ledbury
Amidst all this fancy footwork, it was inevitable that some of it would rub off on Ledbury which comes with its own stable yard and four loose boxes, each fitted with automatic drinkers, rubber matting and feed mangers.
Four stables ready for new occupants
There's a grass arena too, and a large feed and tack room (also for use as a covered hay barn) and there's a water supply to three drinking troughs in the fields around the house, where horses or ponies can graze to their hock's content. It's the kind of set-up you'd envisage as the dream buy for a family of horsey types.
Ledbury didn't start out with its best hoof forward. In 1979, the year it was built, it was no more than an over-basement bungalow, owned by agricultural advisor John Anthony, who used the basement for offices. He sold it in 2012 to a UK-based couple, Jo and Patrick Clarke, who relocated from Derbyshire, after falling for the pretty Bride Valley village of Conna.
The Clarke's took the bit between the teeth and re-ordered the house completely, upgrading every element, installing the new staircase, and ultimately delivering a high-end home, with a commendable B3 energy rating, and enough space (3,700 sq ft) for an entire yard of stable hands.
In time, the house and three acres of grounds outgrew the Clarke's and they put it on the market in 2016 — whereupon it was spotted by a family looking to move out of a semi-d in Midleton's Broomfield to a detached home in the countryside.
'My wife Laura always had an eye out for a detached home with more room and when she saw Ledbury, she absolutely fell for it,' says current owner, Henry Switzer, who bought the property, next door to the yard of horse trainer Jimmy Mangan (Monty's Pass) in 2017.
Although their kids are more focused on swimming pools than stables, the couple themselves knew a thing or two about horses. Laura had been involved in eventing and Henry had found himself 'of all places, on one of the German national studs outside Munich, while I was trying to become a sound engineer'.
They put Ledbury to good use as a sanctuary for mistreated ponies, taking referrals from My Lovely Horse Animal Rescue.
'They were ponies that had been mistreated, so getting them to trust humans again— that was so, so rewarding,' Henry says. 'Like people, some horses are difficult and some are easy,' he adds.
The Switzers also fostered a few lurchers and kept hens.
'What the house represented for us was freedom – to move around, to have animals, room for the kids to roam. It was very much a lifestyle choice for us,' Henry says.
Among the loveliest features is the acre of landscaped gardens and the various patio and terrace areas that overlook them.
The star of the show though is the first-floor roof top garden terrace, with spectacular views to the Galtee and Knockmealdown mountains.
The same views — spanning four counties — are served up to the sunroom, which opens onto the terrace, as does the first floor living room.
Sensibly, the main daytime accommodation is upstairs — including the kitchen (with AGA) and family room.
The kitchen at Ledbury
Six bedrooms are spread across the two floors, with one in use as a library.
The main downstairs bedroom has French doors to a patio and there's a conservatory to the rear.
Rear terrace
Henry says he will 'miss the views the most', but that it's time to move on as their kids' needs have changed.
Adrianna Hegarty of Hegarty Properties is selling the five-bed Conna home with double garage and brings it to market with an AMV of €610,000.
'It's been redesigned and renovated to a very high spec and orientated to make the most of the spectacular views,' the agent says.
She adds that it 'will excite families with an interest in horses, as well as fishing enthusiasts' as both the rivers Blackwater and Bride are nearby.
Moreover the layout could easily accommodate guest accommodation or Airbnb, Ms Hegarty says.
Conna village is within walking distance of Ledbury, the town of Midleton is a 20-minute drive, Fermoy is 10 minutes away, there's handy access to the Dublin motorway and Shannon Airport is 30 minutes by car.
VERDICT: Quality home on beautiful grounds, ideal for horsey types. Successful bidder gains entry to the Winner's Enclosure.
