Knight Frank are bringing an estate in Co Meath to the market that has a significant land holding comprising of 236ac (95.7 hectares). It was also home to one of the two men born in Ireland who held the role of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Dangan Castle, between Summerhill and Trim, is guided in excess of €3.1m and is presently in a ruinous state. The large provincial Georgian country house was built in the early 1700s. It was constructed with a five bay two-storey front over a vaulted basement and with a molded cornice supporting a parapet.

Dangan Castle itself stands on an elevated site overlooking the undulating lands. It is currently laid out in three sections with roughly 50ac of grassland, 115ac of tillage and 70ac of forestry. The woodlands contain a range of tree species across broadleaves and conifers that vary in maturity from over 150 years old to some that were planted in the 20th century. These help enhance the estate’s biodiversity and amenity appeal.

The lands have 180m of frontage onto the Trim Road and it’s only 2km from Summerhill village and 8km from Trim.

Protected structures

The Dangan Castle ruins and demesne features are protected structures and the lands are zoned as an objective Rural Area ‘to protect and promote in a balanced way, the development of agriculture, forestry and rural-related enterprise, biodiversity, the rural landscape, and the built and cultural heritage’ under the Meath County Development Plan 2021 - 2027.

The historic estate was home to the Wellesley family and was the childhood home of Arthur Wellesley, who later became the 1st Duke of Wellington (victor over Napolean at Waterloo) and served twice as Prime Minister of the UK.

The property passed out of the hands of the Wellesley family to Arthur’s older brother. Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley, who inherited it in 1781 before he sold it to Thomas Burrowes of the East India Company in 1793, who subsequently leased it ten years later to Roger O’Connor, a colourful character in his own right.

The story goes that he took out the lease as he saw Dangan Castle as “a suitable residence in which to entertain Napoleon” after the anticipated defeat of the British. It’s unlikely the thought of his childhood home being used to host the French Emperor was the principal driver behind the Duke of Wellington’s success at Waterloo in 1815, but nonetheless it’s an interesting connection.

In 1809, much of the castle was destroyed by fire and as a fire took place not long after an insurance policy was taken out, O’Connor was suspected of insurance fraud. Following that fire, much of the building has been a ruin ever since.

Stable yard

A fine stable yard centering on a pedimented block also survives, albeit in a dilapidated state.

Commenting on the property, a spokesperson for Knight Frank said: “The Dangan Castle Estate offers a purchaser a unique opportunity to purchase an amazing land bank planted with beautiful mature trees set in the land with a number of historical features in addition to Dangan Castle, such as Dangan Bridge and stable yard.

The fantastic setting presents a significant landbank in tillage, grass and woodlands nearing maturity and we would expect interest in the sale from a range of buyers’ who wish to put their mark on this historic estate.”