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new developments > Gosford Castle, Markethill, County Armagh |
| Overview |
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Welcome to Gosford Castle, the most exclusive community of breathtaking homes in Europe.
Gosford Castle represents an unparalleled opportunity to acquire one of only 23 stunning homes being created within the very fabric of this magnificent 19th century castle. Set in 600 acres of pristine parkland, and with its own original walled garden, residents of this gated community are already enjoying a truly aspirational lifestyle in the heart of county Armagh, yet only 45 miles from Belfast and 75 miles from Dublin. |
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Hidden, almost lost, in a forest in County Armagh, stands Gosford Castle, one of the most remarkable buildings in Ireland. This imposing castle of granite is built in the rare Norman Revival style, as typified by its massive complex of towers, great square keep, bastions and blocks, its round windows and arches.
Now, after some years of dereliction, when its gracious rooms were home only to pigeons and bats, new life is being breathed into this slumbering giant. Under the careful ownership of Joint Venture Developers, the Castle is being sensitively refurbished to accommodate a truly unique selection of individual homes. The restoration will create a community of 23 exquisitely finished adjoining houses, from under 1,000 sq ft, to over 4,000sq ft, each with its own front door, hallway, staircases and, in some cases, as many as four floors of accommodation. As well as having private terraces and courtyards, residents will enjoy the use of the wonderful parkland, lawns and walled garden of Gosford Castle. |
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This is a truly exceptional opportunity to enjoy the grandeur and opulence of 1800s period living in one of the most aweinspiring properties in Ireland.
Gosford Castle was built as a family residence. Now after almost two hundred years, it is being restored to its original function. So whether it is to find the ideal family dwelling, a quiet rural retreat, or simply to enjoy the spacious delights of a castle home, the residences at Gosford Castle provide an optimum balance between easy accessibility and splendid isolation; period style and modern living.
While the Castle’s rural ambience offers its own unique charm, the attractions of town and city are never far away. Situated next to |
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Markethill and almost equidistant from Armagh, Newry and Craigavon, residents are never more than 15 minutes or so from shops, schools, restaurants and entertainment . What’s more, the singular attractions of Ireland’s largest conurbations lie within easy striking distance. Belfast can be reached via the M1 motorway in less than an hour, and with immediate access to the M50 motorway at Newry, Dublin is a mere 90 minute drive away.
For globe-trotters, international journeys could hardly be more convenient. With three world-class airports at Belfast International Airport, Aldergrove; the George Best Belfast City Airport, and Dublin International Airport, there are a world of opportunities for those who wish to travel.
The area has two fine 18-hole golf courses, County Armagh and Tandragee. There is excellent fishing throughout the region, most notably at Loughgall Country Park Coarse Fisher, and there are many fine walks in the surrounding countryside, including ‘The Pilgrim’s Trail’, ‘Walking in the Footsteps of Saint Patrick’, ‘Orchard County/Apple Blossom Tour’ and guided tours in Armagh. |
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| The Grand Concept |
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Viewed through the somewhat restrictive filters of our 21st century housing expectations, it is easy to overlook that Gosford Castle was designed and built primarily as a home. Accordingly, the entire raison d’être underpinning this scheme by Joint Venture Developers is to restore this stately home to its former splendour; to refurbish it in a style and to a standard that is in keeping with its superlative pedigree; and ,to revitalise the Castle by offering it as a place where discerning purchasers can find an exceptional residence, far from the madding crowd.
To achieve this, the Castle has been vertically split into a number of separate dwellings and our team of master craftsmen has created a suite of 23 highly individualistic homes of one, two, three and four storeys in height, each set within the original fabric of the Castle. As a result, the homes retain the innate character and historic integrity of the building by incorporating existing staircases and walls where possible.
Exquisite attention has been paid to restorative detail. For example, the original colour scheme in the principal rooms has been replicated in order to recapture the bright atmosphere of the Castle in its prime.
With this exacting commitment to authenticity, it is entirely appropriate that the architectural practice responsible for the project is The Boyd Partnership, currently retained by the Environment and Heritage Service to advise on Historic Building Grants; by the Heritage Lottery Fund to monitor Conservation Projects; and, by DoE Planning Service as Conservation Area Architects.
The Grade A-Listed Castle lies immediately adjacent to the 593-acre Gosford Forest Park owned by the Forestry Service. All of the residents will enjoy a tranquil and opulent environment, private and secure from the Forest Park, but with all the benefits of direct access to the Park. |
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| Classical Grandeur |
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The contrast between the austere medievalism of Gosford Castle’s exterior and the sumptuous splendour of its interior will appeal to those who relish the opportunity to live somewhere truly unique and exotic. Whether it is for a stunning family home, a holiday destination or a quiet retreat, each of the 23 dwellings within the Castle combines the essential elements of privacy, modernity and classic grandeur.
In its day, the Castle embraced the very latest in 19th century technology. This contemporary restoration sees it updated to the very highest standards of the 21st century. By retaining many of their original elements and features, such as doors, stairways, fireplaces, etc., each dwelling has an immediate historical relevance. This has been enhanced through the use of quality fixtures and fittings throughout and as a result, residents will enjoy elegant accommodation with absolutely no compromise in terms of comfort and ease of living.
With access not only to the 11 acres of landscaped gardens and parkland that accompany the scheme, as well as a stable yard, superb walled garden and woodland with its own fairy tree, the Castle’s residents can also explore almost 600 acres of Gosford Forest Park that lie on their doorstep. |
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| Exemplary Surroundings |
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Gosford Forest Park is set in the gently rolling drumlin countryside of County Armagh, the former seat of the High Kings of Ireland. The Park was established in 1958, when the 600 acres of diverse woodland and open parkland that formed the Gosford Demesne were acquired by the Department of Agriculture. In 1986, the Park was designated the first conservation forest in Northern Ireland.
Many of the original buildings and features of the demesne are still to be found within the Park. The large stone-built house, known as the ‘laundry house’ is where all the clothes and linen from the Castle were cleaned and prepared. Standing near what was once the main road to Markethill is the ice-house, a 19th century deep freeze, where meat, fish and poultry for the Castle were stored. There are even three graves dating from 1797 that mark where the second Earl buried his favourite dogs, Walter, Quiz and Hotspur. The nature walks through the grounds are said to have been devised by Jonathan Swift, and his name lives on at Dean Swift’s Well, whose waters are reputed to have curative powers.
The walled garden is for the exclusive enjoyment of the Castle’s residents. Originally laid out in a cruciform shape, it would have produced all kinds of fruit, vegetable and flowers for consumption by the Achesons and their guests. Today it still is home to many exotic plant species, its 200 year old brick walls creating a perfect micro-climate in which they can thrive. |
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| Designed For Your Future |
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Gosford Castle was commissioned in 1819 by Archibald Acheson , the second Earl of Gosford, known as ‘the farmer peer’. It was designed by the respected English architect, Edward Hopper, a favourite of the Prince Regent. Local craftsmen and materials were used wherever possible throughout its construction, and artisans were brought in from Italy to create the wonderful plasterwork. The circular drawing room alone was described as ‘..a wonder in fine design and workmanship..’
Completed after almost 20 years at a cost in excess of £80,000 – the equivalent of £45 million in today terms - Gosford Castle proved a strain on the family finances and in 1921 the contents of the house were sold. The Castle was commandeered as a billet for American troops during World War II. In 1958, the entire estate was sold off to the Northern Ireland Forestry Commission.
The central element of Gosford Castle is the keep. It dominates the rest of the castle, looming above the entrance and tying together the other smaller blocks of towers and buildings. However, the interior of the Castle was aimed more at comfort than with keeping with its Norman Revival exterior. There were 197 rooms in the Castle, making it the largest house in Ireland. Central heating warmed its vast reception rooms and guests were lavishly entertained . In its heyday in the late 1860s, it was described by one visitor as “ …a wonder to behold, with its comfortable apartments, advanced plumbing and dining table profusely covered with every delicious viand.”
Hopper continued Norman Revival architecture at Penrhyn Castle in north Wales, a National Trust property which has been refurbished with original furniture and decorations in keeping with its period. The exotic splendour of Penrhyn provides a taster of what purchasers at Gosford Castle can hope to achieve with their castle homes. |
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| The Acheson Family |
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When the Achesons first settled in Ulster, they built a strong castle at Cloncarney around 1617, but it was destroyed in the Williamite wars of the 1640s. In 1728, the manor house which replaced it hosted the celebrated author and poet, Jonathan Swift, famous for ‘Gulliver’s Travels”. Swift wrote poetry at the Achesons’ and a number of his poems make mention of the family, their demesne and the area around Markethill.
In 1819, the Archibald Acheson , the second Earl of Gosford, commissioned the construction of Gosford Castle. It is possible that the Norman Revival style chosen for the Castle was influenced by his wife, the daughter and heiress of Robert Sparrow, of Worlingham Hall in Suffolk. It was largely her money that built the Castle and she may have been inspired by the great Norman keeps of her East Anglian homeland.
One of the wonders of Gosford Castle is the library, whose fine plasterwork is still intact. It was added to the house by the third Earl and among its treasure was a First Folio Shakespeare. Its Norman bookshelves are intricately carved with a profusion of mouldings, flowers and beats heads. Sadly, the shelves are now empty, their contents having been sold by the fourth Earl, allegedly to settle a gambling debt. Also of note is the drawing room in the round tower, an immense circular chamber, capable of accommodating 300 people, with a spectacular and lavishly decorated domed ceiling. |
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| What’s in a Name |
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A cheson, Atchison, Atchinson, etc. are all corruptions of the form Atkinson. The origins of this name lie in Scotland, where “Adkin” was a favourite diminutive of the Adam and implied “Little Adam”.
During the 12th and 13th centuries, when surnames came to the fore, the casual use of “Adkin’s Son” grew into a permanent family name. The family spread throughout the British Isles and came to Ulster in the 17th century. |
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Castle Overview
Main Castle Residence
Units
2C The West Court
2D The Garden Wing
3E The Court Front House
3F The South West Front House
3G The East Yard House
4C The Lower Ward
4D The Inner Bailey
4E The Great Hall
5C The Old Keep
5D The Bastion Gate
5E The Dining Room House
6A The Library Wing
6B The Round Tower
Courtyard Residence
Units
2A West Stableyard II
2B South Stableyard II
3A West Stableyard I
3B South Stableyard I
3C West Tower
3D East Tower
4A East Stableyard I
4B East Stableyard II
5A North Stableyard I
5B North Stableyard II |
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Whether you are looking to purchase your first home or simply want to check that your current mortgage
arrangements are giving you the best value for money, make Autoline Mortgages your first stop! |
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