A stately home on 25 acres in east Donegal has recently come on the market with an asking price of just €550,000.
Built in 1806, Convoy House is steeped in history, nestled on wooded parkland and comes with river frontage and a gated lodge on the edge of the village.
The house was substantially damaged by fire in 1971, particularly to the interior, but much work has been carried out since to return the house to its early glory. This house was built and possibly designed by a George Taylor for the then owner of the estate, Robert Montgomery (1778-1846). The property also had its own horse and cart roadway directly to the local Church of Ireland.
Convoy House. Pic: Martin McGowan Properties.
The hipped slate roof of the main residence was replaced in 1990 and it has been newly wired and plumbed within the last 25 years. The five-bedroom house also contains a basement, ‘a palatial dining room’ and an ornate sweeping staircase.
Selling auctioneer, Martin McGowan Properties, says: “This country house offers great potential – it does require some enhancing and upgrading but we have reflected same with the very realistic price tag.”
To view or obtain further information, please contact the auctioneer’s office on 074 91 90090 or log on to www.martinmcgowan.ie
The top of the sweeping staircase at Convoy House. Pic: Martin McGowan Properties.
The gatehouse at Convoy House. Pic: Martin McGowan Properties.
According to the National Built Heritage website, this house was purchased from the Nesbitt family by Alexander Montgomery (1686-1729) by 1720, although the Montgomery family was living in the Convoy area by 1684 when a Hugh Montgomery of Convoy is noted. Alexander was a noteworthy figure who served in the Scots Greys cavalry and as an MP for Donegal Borough from 1725 until his death. The Montgomery family was highly distinguished with a number of notable members, particularly in the military arena, including Major-General Richard Montgomery (1738-1775), who led the failed attempted invasion of Canada by the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War in 1775; Colonel Alexander John Montgomery (1720-1800), who served in the British Army in Canada during the Seven Years War, served as MP for Donegal from 1768 until his death, and 1768 and was High Sheriff of County Donegal in 1773; while Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, was a descendant of a branch of the family based at Moville. Convoy House was the home of a Revd. Charles Boyton during the late 1840s (married a daughter of Robert Montgomery). It was later the residence of Colonel Robert George Montgomery in the 1870s, 80s and 90s (Slater’s Directory of 1881 and 1894), who owned 8,861 acres in the area in 1876.