Glenganagh , 39 Bangor Road, Groomsport , BT19 6JF

Introduction Set within approximately twelve acres of mature, entirely walled grounds overlooking Ballyholme Bay, Glenganagh Estate is a country property of remarkable scale, character and completeness. Few properties on this coastline offer such a comprehensive and unspoilt survival of a traditional estate: a substantial period residence, a detached gate lodge, a stable block and carriage house, extensive garaging, stores and former staff accommodation, all set amid sweeping lawns, mature specimen trees, a traditional walled garden and greenhouse, with direct private access to the beach at Ballyholme Bay. Held within the same family for generations, Glenganagh has retained an authenticity and integrity that is increasingly rare - a property that has been lived in and loved rather than developed and diluted. It now presents an outstanding, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a purchaser to acquire, restore and reimagine a genuine country estate within the established and highly sought-after North Down setting, close to Bangor town, the seafront and the wider commuter belt of Belfast. History Glenganagh's story stretches back the best part of two centuries. The house is believed to date from around 1815-1820 and appears on the first Ordnance Survey map of the area in 1834. In its early years it was the home of Anna Dorothea, Lady Dufferin, who moved there shortly after being widowed in 1836 and lived at Glenganagh until her death in 1865 - a noted gardener whose influence is thought to have shaped the grounds that survive in outline today. The house was considerably extended in 1858, forming the courtyard to the rear, before passing through a period in the ownership of barrister and horticulturalist Andrew Cowan. In 1880 the estate was acquired by Samuel Kingan, a successful Belfast businessman, who invested heavily in the gardens and glasshouses and added the Gate Lodge in the 1880s designed by the architect James Hanna. Following Samuel Kingan's death in 1911, his children carried out the significant Edwardian remodelling that gives the house its most memorable interior character today - the panelled entrance and inner halls, the top-lit staircase hall with its gallery and sweeping oak staircase, and a Jacobean-style stone bay window to the dining room, all carried out under the same architect who had built the Gate Lodge a generation before. It is this layering of Regency origins and Edwardian craftsmanship, set within grounds that have been tended by the same family for generations since, that gives Glenganagh its rare and compelling character today. The Main House The Main House is an imposing two-storey period residence of considerable scale and character. Its elegant Regency façade distinguished by multi-pane sash-style windows, numerous chimney stacks, and a fine glazed conservatory extending along the side elevation. Inside, the principal reception hall sets the tone for the entire house: a grand space lined with Jacobean-style arched oak panelling beneath fleur-de-lis plaster motifs, centered on a sweeping Arts & Crafts oak staircase detailed with hand-carved floral rosettes and octagonal newels. Highlighted by exposed ceiling beams, parquet flooring, a Tudor Revival stone fireplace, and a deep red stair runner, it creates a warm and truly memorable first impression. The ground floor reception rooms, comprising a drawing room, sitting room, dining room, and study, feature full-height oak panelling, geometric ceiling rib-work, and deep bay windows. The layout connects directly to the side conservatory, where ornate cast-iron framing captures sweeping sea views across Belfast Lough. Upstairs, the first floor comprises a principal suite with a dedicated dressing room alongside further bedrooms featuring coved ceilings, window shutters, and cast-iron fireplaces, with key rooms enjoying elevated views over the grounds and coastline. The Service Section Reflecting the scale on which Glenganagh was originally run, the service section provides a remarkable range of ancillary and domestic accommodation to the rear of the principal rooms. The kitchen is supported by a scullery or back kitchen, pantry and larder, together with utility and laundry areas, a boot room and rear hall, and a series of domestic and general stores connected by service corridors. Further plant and store rooms, together with dedicated wood and coal stores and a store room adjoining the conservatory, complete this extensive and historically fascinating part of the house - a vivid reminder of the household staff and daily routines that once sustained a property of this size. Outbuildings & Gardens Stable Block & Courtyard A substantial traditional two-storey range set around an inner courtyard, featuring extensive stabling, a tack room with original equestrian fittings, stores, and a first-floor loft. Former Staff / Chauffeur's Cottage A separate ancillary range comprising several rooms, including a former kitchen with a traditional range, living accommodation, and stores, offering prime potential for refurbishment (STPP). Carriage House, Garaging & Stores A detached carriage house with traditional timber doors, complemented by extensive garaging, workshop space, a timber woodshed set in mature woodland, and dedicated coal, wood, and estate stores. Walled Garden & Greenhouse A traditional stone-walled kitchen garden with gated access, alongside a large traditional glazed greenhouse suitable for restoration, formal landscaping, or an orchard. Gardens & Grounds Extending to approximately 12 acres enclosed within estate boundary walls, the grounds feature sweeping lawns and mature specimen woodland with direct private access to the beach at Ballyholme Bay. Gate Lodge (Grade B1 Listed) An attractive detached, single-storey period lodge standing prominently at the main entrance to the estate. Positioned alongside the original decorative entrance gates and stone piers, this listed property features its own private garden area, forming an exceptionally characterful and formal introduction to the estate grounds.