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Family finances

Who is the breadwinner in your family and does it matter?

Irish castle where Winston Churchill regularly stayed on market for €13.5 million

  • <p>Knockdrin Castle is a magnificent example of a Gothic Revival castle, one of the finest castellated country houses built in Ireland during the first half of the 19th century. (LeadingEstates.com) </p>
    1/12

    Sprawling estate

    Knockdrin Castle is a magnificent example of a Gothic Revival castle, one of the finest castellated country houses built in Ireland during the first half of the 19th century. (LeadingEstates.com)

  • <p>It sits in 1,050 acres of rolling parkland estate in Mullingar, Co Westmeath, about a 60-minute drive from Dublin. (LeadingEstates.com) </p>
    2/12

    Acres of land

    It sits in 1,050 acres of rolling parkland estate in Mullingar, Co Westmeath, about a 60-minute drive from Dublin. (LeadingEstates.com)

  • <p>The estate is managed from the huge home office. (Sotheby’s International Realty) </p>
    3/12

    Working office

    The estate is managed from the huge home office. (Sotheby’s International Realty)

  • <p>Among the castle’s most striking features is this top-lit staircase and numerous doors painstakingly fashioned from carved oak. (LeadingEstates.com) </p>
    4/12

    Grand staircase

    Among the castle’s most striking features is this top-lit staircase and numerous doors painstakingly fashioned from carved oak. (LeadingEstates.com)

  • <p>There are seven reception rooms, including this impressive library. (LeadingEstates.com) </p>
    5/12

    Library

    There are seven reception rooms, including this impressive library. (LeadingEstates.com)

  • <p>The castle was built by Sir Richard Levinge [1785-1848], who first commissioned Sir Richard Morrison to design a new Gothic Revival-style castle residence circa 1810. (LeadingEstates.com) </p>
    6/12

    Grand setting

    The castle was built by Sir Richard Levinge [1785-1848], who first commissioned Sir Richard Morrison to design a new Gothic Revival-style castle residence circa 1810. (LeadingEstates.com)

  • <p>Neither of Morrison’s two designs were built and the actual build is attributed to James Shiel, assistant to Francis Johnston, one of Ireland’s best known architects. (Sotheby’s International Realty) </p>
    7/12

    Driveway

    Neither of Morrison’s two designs were built and the actual build is attributed to James Shiel, assistant to Francis Johnston, one of Ireland’s best known architects. (Sotheby’s International Realty)

  • <p>There are seven bedrooms, including the Crown Bedroom where the future British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill stayed, his parents being regular visitors to the estate. (Sotheby’s International Realty) </p>
    8/12

    Big bedroom

    There are seven bedrooms, including the Crown Bedroom where the future British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill stayed, his parents being regular visitors to the estate. (Sotheby’s International Realty)

  • <p>The grand entrance foyer is one of several reception rooms in the castle. (Sotheby’s International Realty) </p>
    9/12

    Ballroom

    The grand entrance foyer is one of several reception rooms in the castle. (Sotheby’s International Realty)

  • <p>The kitchen features very modern fixtures and fittings. (Sotheby’s International Realty) </p>
    10/12

    Heart of the home

    The kitchen features very modern fixtures and fittings. (Sotheby’s International Realty)

  • <p>In all, Knockdrin Castle spreads to some 1,140 acres, comprising of 600 acres in arable lands; 415 acres in woodland; 95 acres in lake(s); and the remainder gardens. (Sotheby’s International Realty) </p>
    11/12

    Drawing room

    In all, Knockdrin Castle spreads to some 1,140 acres, comprising of 600 acres in arable lands; 415 acres in woodland; 95 acres in lake(s); and the remainder gardens. (Sotheby’s International Realty)

  • <p>As well as carefully managed parklands, the sprawling estate also includes belts of highly productive arable lands along with commercial woodland and a small lake [Lough Drin]. (LeadingEstates.com) </p>
    12/12

    Open spaces

    As well as carefully managed parklands, the sprawling estate also includes belts of highly productive arable lands along with commercial woodland and a small lake [Lough Drin]. (LeadingEstates.com)

<p>Knockdrin Castle is a magnificent example of a Gothic Revival castle, one of the finest castellated country houses built in Ireland during the first half of the 19th century. (LeadingEstates.com) </p>
<p>It sits in 1,050 acres of rolling parkland estate in Mullingar, Co Westmeath, about a 60-minute drive from Dublin. (LeadingEstates.com) </p>
<p>The estate is managed from the huge home office. (Sotheby’s International Realty) </p>
<p>Among the castle’s most striking features is this top-lit staircase and numerous doors painstakingly fashioned from carved oak. (LeadingEstates.com) </p>
<p>There are seven reception rooms, including this impressive library. (LeadingEstates.com) </p>
<p>The castle was built by Sir Richard Levinge [1785-1848], who first commissioned Sir Richard Morrison to design a new Gothic Revival-style castle residence circa 1810. (LeadingEstates.com) </p>
<p>Neither of Morrison’s two designs were built and the actual build is attributed to James Shiel, assistant to Francis Johnston, one of Ireland’s best known architects. (Sotheby’s International Realty) </p>
<p>There are seven bedrooms, including the Crown Bedroom where the future British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill stayed, his parents being regular visitors to the estate. (Sotheby’s International Realty) </p>
<p>The grand entrance foyer is one of several reception rooms in the castle. (Sotheby’s International Realty) </p>
<p>The kitchen features very modern fixtures and fittings. (Sotheby’s International Realty) </p>
<p>In all, Knockdrin Castle spreads to some 1,140 acres, comprising of 600 acres in arable lands; 415 acres in woodland; 95 acres in lake(s); and the remainder gardens. (Sotheby’s International Realty) </p>
<p>As well as carefully managed parklands, the sprawling estate also includes belts of highly productive arable lands along with commercial woodland and a small lake [Lough Drin]. (LeadingEstates.com) </p>
Mark Dorman

A former holiday retreat of Winston Churchill has gone on the market for €13.5 million. Knockdrin Castle, in Co Westmeath, Ireland is being offered for sale for only the fourth time in its 150-year-plus history.

The 19,375 square foot “castle”, which is technically a Georgian country house, was commissioned in the early 1800s by Sir Richard Levinge and stayed in his family for more than 100 years.

War-time prime minister Churchill was a regular visitor to the house during the Irish War of Independence. His mother, Lady Churchill, who regularly hunted on the estates, said “the foxes are as wild as the locals”.