Househunter Bushy Park in Enniskerry, Co Wicklow

This has had a number of notable owners. It once belonged to William Parnell, who opposed the union between Ireland and Britain back in the early 1800s and later the house was owned by the "hanging judge", Judge Keogh. Bushy Park, which has 22 acres and is 13 miles from Dublin, will be auctioned on Tuesday 28 May by Hamilton Osborne King. It has eight bedrooms and three main reception rooms, superb grounds with coach house and stabling, a house and two cottages. "We have had some good home-based enquiries, but we believe that there will be a high level of interest from abroad, particularly from England and Germany" says Hugh Hamilton. (00 353 1 6760251).

For What Its Worth

There is evidence of increased demand for prime central London properties according to Wetherell. The estate agent reports that this is particularly the case in the pounds 50,000 to pounds 2m price range. Wetherell says this is borne out by the current trend for off-market deals which in their experience in the last six months amount to about 30 per cent of all transactions in the Mayfair area.

This might provide some cause for concern for agents; not so Wetherell. Because of the difficulty of finding the right property on the market (not helped by this predilection by vendors to sell quietly and privately), the agent has also had a 250 per cent increase in the number of applicants who are prepared to retain them in the acquisition of properties. Wetherell has been helping these clients buy properties whether on or off the open market.