ANYONE WITH AN interest in Irish sporting history has probably heard of James Cecil Parke. Born in Clones, Co Monaghan, his achievements include not only playing rugby for Ireland, but winning olympic medals along with mixed doubles at Wimbledon. He wasn’t just an all-round talented sportsman either, he was also a solicitor and fought in World War I.
If simply reading about Parke’s achievements makes you feel tired, you can dream of taking a rest at Crossmoyle House. A period property that dates to about 1850 and stands on over four acres, Parke was born here in 1881. And it’s now on the market for €585,000.
Of course, almost two centuries later, it has seen its fair share of updates and renovations, but its original features are still dotted throughout. This only adds to the charm of this home, which is pretty clear from the outset.
The floor area of 260 m² leaves lots of room for a series of social spaces including what’s called a gentleman’s room and a drawing room. The sash windows add to the historic charm as well as let you soak up the countryside views.
There’s also an elegant dining room that looks out to the tennis court. This links to the kitchen that has been renovated and roomy enough for more casual meals. A connecting utility room keeps chores more streamlined too.
Of the five bedrooms upstairs, four of them are large doubles with large windows and lots of light. Harking back to a previous era, some of the rooms still have corner sinks.
And the add a little more luxury to this grand house, there is also a Scandinavian sauna to enjoy any time of year.
The house is located just outside the town of Clones. Surrounded by trees and plants and well back from the road, it’s a tranquil spot that makes the most of the surrounding landscape, accented with Belgravia lamp posts that line the driveway and more structured planted areas. There is also a tennis court on the grounds, which only seems fitting given the house’s history.
If the next owner has a project in mind, they’ll have a stable yard, workshop, wood shed, storage sheds as well as a greenhouse to play with.
Clones town is served well when it comes to everyday needs and it’s just a walk away, which may make it easier to stay active and leave the car at home. Larger Monaghan town is 18km away, while Dublin can be reached in under two hours in the car. For anyone looking for a slice of the countryside, that’s not completely isolated, Crossmoyle House could be ideal. If the next owner is into sport, perhaps some of Parke’s talent will rub off on them.
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