The Old House, 11 Unicarval Road, Comber BT23 5LA

Additional Information

Unicarval Road is a quiet country lane running between the Ballyrainey Road and the Ballyhenry Road, on the Belfast side of Comber. Turning into The Old House avenue, the tree canopy of the lower part of the private lane with its mix of Lime and Ash trees bordering the laneway, will immediately catch your eye.  At the top you start to get a glimpse of some of the beautiful Scrabo stone of the buildings that make up this courtyard of barns, barn conversion and cottage and then as the whole property comes into view you will think WOW! It is a wonderful courtyard, dating back to 1868, the buildings laid out around the extensive gravel and grass centre with the house straight in front of you, the barn on the left, the cottage behind you and another smaller barn in front of the house. 

The house faces west with spectacular views across drumlin countryside to the Mournes, Slieve Croob and around towards Belfast.  The foreground is unspoilt agricultural land.  The view to the east is of Scrabo Hill and Killynether Woods.  The gardens are really special with a wooded area to the north, extensive lawn with native and ornamental trees to the south and to the west, lawn with shrubs, box hedging, flower beds and pond.  The site totals around 1.75 acres.

The conversion from barn to house was carried out in the 1980's including insulation and dry lining of exterior walls, new flooring, roofing and roof insulation.  There are aspects of the house that could be considered dated but the budget for refurbishment could be reasonably modest or if you wanted to create a £1m plus showpiece, the budget would obviously be considerably greater.

The house has so much charm it is difficult to mention all the features but the quarry tiled floors and the beamed ceilings stand out along with the deep reveals to the windows and lots of nooks and crannies.  The accommodation comprises reception hall and sitting room, kitchen, utility room and boot room, bedroom 4 and shower room on the ground floor with fantastic first floor living room with vaulted ceiling and large windows taking in the glorious views.  This would make a wonderful master bedroom as on the ground floor there is breathtaking undeveloped two storey room at the end of the house, off the hall.  It is massive and has a vaulted ceiling.  The potential of this room will have your 'creative juices' in full flow.

If the house is impressive and charming, the outside space really matches it, the large barn has a ground floor games room or entertaining room (it has hosted weddings) and it has a large wooden conservatory to the rear,  There are other stores in the building and a loft.  The cottage is very charming but is derelict.  Subject to planning this would make a perfect guest cottage.  The other outbuilding has a small courtyard and is also constructed in Strabo stone with lovely old stone slabs on the floor.

Opportunities for properties like this in such a convenient rural location with so much potential are very rare and it really could be the chance of a lifetime!

GROUND FLOOR

Exterior porch canopy

Reception Hall:

5m x 3m (16' 5" x 9' 10")
Glazed double entrance doors, timber beamed ceiling and quarry tiled floor and glazed door to garden. Open to sitting room with folding doors to create separate room.

Sitting Room:

3.96m x 3.15m (13' 0" x 10' 4")
Timber beamed ceiling and raised brick fireplace with timber mantle. Glazed double French doors. Porthole window to hall.

Hall

1.63m x 4.45m (5' 4" x 14' 7")
Quarry tiled floor.

Kitchen:

4.98m x 3.96m (16' 4" x 13' 0")
Range of pine low level units with double sink unit. Rayburn cast iron range running central heating with timber mantle, timber beamed ceiling and quarry tiled floor.

Utility Room

3.51m x 2.34m (11' 6" x 7' 8")
Built in shelving, plumbed for washing, Belfast sink, quarry tiled floor and timber beamed ceiling.

Boot Room:

3.2m x 1.37m (10' 6" x 4' 6")
Quarry tiled floor and timber beamed ceiling

Rear Hall:

Quarry tiled floor and door to garden.

Bedroom 4:

5m x 2.84m (16' 5" x 9' 4")
Timber beamed ceiling and built in wardrobes

Shower Room:

1.83m x 2.06m (6' 0" x 6' 9")
Tiled shower enclosure with electric shower, WC and wash hand basin, tiled walls and floor.

Potential Living Room:

11.51m x 5.31m (37' 9" x 17' 5")
Double height with vaulted timber ceiling. Access from reception hall

FIRST FLOOR

Landing

With vaulted timber ceiling. Hot press

Living Room:

6.38m x 5.18m (20' 11" x 17' 0")
Vaulted timber ceiling, wooden floor, fireplace with wooden mantle, glazed door and shutter to external steps, old pine corner cabinet and two large windows taking in the view.

Bedroom: 3

3.86m x 2.95m (12' 8" x 9' 8")
Vaulted timber ceiling and wooden floor. View

Bathroom:

2.08m x 2.92m (6' 10" x 9' 7")
Coloured suite. Vaulted timber ceiling

Bedroom 2

4.9m x 2.92m (16' 1" x 9' 7")
Vaulted timber ceiling. View

Bedroom:1

5.08m x 4.04m (16' 8" x 13' 3")
Timber vaulted ceiling. View

OUTSIDE

Laneway with canopy of trees including Limes. Courtyard laid out in stone buildings comprising main house, old stone cottage, main barn and garage. Courtyard in gravel and lawn.

Derelict stone cottage which could be renovated subject to planning approval. Two out houses adjacent to cottage

Main Barn

Loose box

4.45m x 4.06m (14' 7" x 13' 4")
With loft over and external stone steps

Outhouse 1

6.1m x 4.27m (20' x 14')
With brick arched entrance with sliding doors and concrete floor. Loft over

Outhouse 2

6.1m x 6.1m (20' x 20')
With brick arched entrance and sliding doors and concrete floor

Games room

11.58m x 6.1m (38' x 20')
Vaulted ceiling and mezzanine.

Wooden conservatory

7.92m x 3.96m (26' x 13')
With coloured glass panels which originally came from Stormont Hotel.

Gardens

Beech hedging with gap leading to extensive lawn with array of native trees, conifers and ornamental trees and shrubs. Areas of long grass to encourage wildlife. South facing lawn to front of house with ornamental shrubs and trees with pond and clipped box hedge bordered herb garden. Natural stone walling. South west facing

Woodland area to north side of house

Barn 2

8.53m x 3.35m (28' 0" x 11' 0")
Additional stone building in courtyard with sliding door and stone flagged floor.
Small area of grass with stone walls enclosure adjacent to barn.

Outside WC in stone building