Foreign Property News | Posted by Zarni Kyaw
Built in 1170, Loftus Hall is an architectural site to behold. The beautiful Georgian mansion in Fethard on Sea in Ireland’s County Wexford is now on sale for $2.87 million. Prospective buyers should take more than the 22 bedrooms into account, however — namely the local legend that it was once inhabited by the devil.
According to The Smithsonian, it’s said that an 18th century card game at the historic property culminated in one of the players revealing his cloven hooves to the owner’s daughter.
As the story goes, she was traumatized for the rest of her life — and her spirit has wandered the halls ever since.
Loftus Hall’s most recent owners have taken strongly to their property’s backstory, offering visitors haunted tours and overnight stays.
If you’ve got the coin, the mansion can be yours, for good. Beware, however, as ghostly silhouettes allegedly stand in the windows at night — and the legends may be true.
(The Legend Of Loftus Hall)
The wind was howling, as cold rain poured from the thundering skies. It was a dour Irish evening in the 18th century — one that came with a mysterious rapping at the door.
The Tottenham family of Loftus Hall didn’t find this unusual, however, as their private shoreline was often used by sailors in stormy weather. They offered the man at the door shelter for several days. He befriended his hosts and took a particular liking to one of their daughters, Anne.
Keen on a bit of socializing and fun, the group sat down to play a game of cards. It was then that Anne dropped her ring (or, by some accounts, a card), and saw something that altered the course of her life. Leaning down, she realized their guest didn’t have human legs — but cloven hooves, instead.
Anne screamed in terror, as the entity they had invited into their home escaped through the ceiling. A loud clap of thunder erupted right after, and a cloud of smoke appeared, leaving the family engulfed by the scent of sulfur. Anne never recovered from the incident.
She went into seclusion in a chamber and died young soon after. According to some, particularly visitors to the almost thousand-year-old mansion, her spirit still wanders the halls.
However, there’s much more to the mansion’s colorful history than this haunting.
( Loftus Hall In Modern Day )
Current owners Shane and Aidan Quigley purchased Loftus Hall for $800,000 in 2011. Though the mansion appears to have a rather solid foundation and good bones within its structure, the two resourceful homeowners decided to give it a proper renovation. The property’s ominous character, however, was actively retained.
The 22-bedroom mansion served as a convent and hotel during the 20th century but was in a rather derelict state by the time the Quigleys bought it. The most substantial renovation work consisted of restoring the Italian staircase, stain-glassed skylight, and adding a reception and café area.
With such an engrossing story on their hands, the Quigleys opted to use the ominous legend to their advantage. From offering haunted tours throughout the property to overnight programs allowing people to experience the creaking residence for themselves — they’ve put it to lucrative use.
Despite all this, the 27,124-square-foot property is in dire need of further renovation. Replacing the 97 windows will cost an estimated $400,000 — making Aiden Quigley’s preference to sell rather than further renovate fairly understandable. Nonetheless, he’s open to some ideas.
“I’m not just going to sell it to anyone,” he said. “I’ll be interviewing potential buyers. If a state body comes in, that’s an option. If an American owner wants to live here, I’d be keen to work with them to restore it.”
On the subject of the rumored haunting, Quigley said, “There is always a feeling that you are not alone in Loftus Hall.”
Ref: allthatsinteresting, Wikipedia
