An Edwardian house steeped in local heritage and history

Steeped in local heritage and history, this two-storey Edwardian house was originally built for the Williams family, renowned for their role in developing Tullamore Dew into one of the world’s best-known whiskey brands.

Constructed in 1909, the current owners have brought the house into the 21st century with numerous upgrades and improvements, including the addition of triple glazing to the majority of windows, quality timber flooring and tiling, and well-appointed bathrooms with contemporary style fittings and sanitary ware.

In completing these works, they have done an outstanding job in sensitively restoring and maintaining the property’s original character, while ensuring all of its modern features are firmly in keeping with its Edwardian past.

Named after its early 20th Century builder, Kingston House also retains many original period features. These include a pitched slate roof with terracotta ridge tiles, rendered quoins, plinths, chimney stacks and, most strikingly, high ceilings and canted bays with full-height windows that are characteristic of the era in which it was built.

Located a five-minute walk from Tullamore town centre, the property is set back from the street within its own grounds, bounded by rendered walls, piers and a timber gate access.

Following its original construction, Kingston House was enlarged over the years with the addition of a two-bay, three-storey extension, a conservatory and a further extension to the rear. There’s also an outbuilding, which has been converted to a three-bay garage.

The property is listed under its former name of Auburn House on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage, which describes it as an extensive house that “retains much character, mainly due to the full-height bays seen on its façade and south-east elevation.”

The Williams family played a prominent role in the early success of Tullamore Dew in the 19th Century, with the famous whiskey taking its name from the initials of Daniel E. Williams, the general manager and later owner of the original distillery. Edmund Williams (1928-2007), a grandson of Daniel E. Williams, was the last member of the Williams family to live in the house. Following the opening of a new distillery in the town in 2014, Tullamore Dew is today a globally recognised brand.

Notwithstanding its rich heritage, the house is not subject to a preservation order which, subject to planning, provides a new owner with greater scope to carry out additional renovations and improvements.

Thanks to its proximity via Kilbeggan to the M6 motorway, Tullamore is less than 90 minutes’ drive from Dublin city centre and just 80 minutes from Dublin Airport via the M4. To the west, the M6 provides rapid access to Athlone (39 minutes), Galway (95 minutes) and Limerick (two hours).

The property is a short stroll from Tullamore railway station, from where an hourly train service brings passengers to Dublin in less than 60 minutes.

Viewing of Kingston House is by appointment only with sole selling agents DNG Kelly Duncan who can be contacted on 057-93-25050.