BECTIVE Demense, a historical nineteenth century walled Victorian mansion set of 180 acres has come on the market in Navan, Co Meath.

There is a wealth of history attached to this estate, which is located midway between Trim and Navan and overlooks the River Boyne. In 1891 the cavalry officer John Watson, one of the most famous equestrian sportsmen in Ireland and to this day known as the ‘Father of polo’ occupied Bective Demesne.

On retiring from the army, Watson returned from India to Bective and devoted himself to equestrian sports, breeding hunters and polo ponies and he established polo playing pitches at Bective. He was also the master of the Meath Foxhounds and erected the kennels that are still in use today.

Businessman Michael Wymes bought the estate in the 1970’s. In November 2003, Mr Wymes, who was involved in a long standing litigation battle in relation to Bula Mines, lost a High Court bid to prevent 950 metres of a new road between Navan and Trim passing through Bective Demesne as part of the construction of the new M3 motorway. He sold the estate in 2006 for a sum believed to be in the region of €13 million.

RESTORATION

It is believed that the Victorian residence has not been lived in for circa 15 years and the property is in need of substantial restoration work. With a guide sale price of €3.5 million, selling agent Philip Guckian of Sherry Fitzgerald Country Homes, Dublin, estimates that an extra €1.5 million will need to be invested to bring the mansion back to its former glory.

The characteristic stable courtyard presents huge potential with 10 loose boxes, the remains of an old lunging ring and a tack room, all being overlooked by a beautiful bell tower. There is also a walled garden and old tennis court outside the residence. Again, the courtyard and stables area is overgrown and in need of a significant restoration.

Bective Demesne stands on 180 acres, 100 of which is excellent arable tillage land that could easily be brought back to pasture, and post and rail paddock fences could be erected. The remaining 80 acres is a mixture of parkland and mature woodland, which could be used as a hacking trail or a track could be built around for leisure riding and training. For hunting enthusiasts, Bective in the heart of Meath Hunt country.

In addition to the main residence, Bective also has two gate lodges at the North and South entrances of the estate, as well as a gardener’s cottage (see picture) to the rear of the walled garden. The three-bedroom cottage has been recently renovated to a beautifully modern standard and may provide a place for the would-be owner to live while restoration is underway.

The restoration of the main residence would take some time. The ceilings need replacing, many of the windows are dilapidated and the downstairs windows are boarded up. However, it doesn’t take away from the potential of the stunning estate set on some of the finest land in the country.

The 180-acre estate is located 45km from Dublin city, with easy access to the airport and city via the M3 and M50 motor ways. The nearest towns are Navan (7km) and Trim (8km).

Guckian reports good interest for the estate, the type “they just don’t build anymore”, with the domestic and foreign interest currently split 50/50. The property is appealing to the US buyer with the dollar remaining strong and Guckian isn’t ruling out the possibility of a large stud farm buyer, especially with the active stud farm market thriving in Ireland at the moment and the supply of good land coming to the market at an all-time low.

Brought to the market by Philip Guckian of Sherry FitzGerald Country Homes, Dublin and Ed Reilly, Sherry FitzGerald Reilly, Navan, Bective is offered for sale by private treaty with a guide price of €3.5 million.

Watch a tour of the stunning estate below