Wexford: €4.75mWells House has Tudor-style splendour, handsome gardens and a sense of history. Robert O'Byrnereports

One of the hits on American television this past spring has been a series called The Tudors. Described as a 16th century version of The Sopranos, it stars Ireland's Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Henry VIII and was filmed last year in Ardmore Studios.

But had the relevant location managers ventured further afield, they would have found a perfect venue not far from Gorey, Co Wexford, where Wells House looks as though it were specifically constructed for the much-married English monarch.

In fact, the property is considerably later in date, having been designed in Tudor-style during the 1840s by architect Daniel Robertson: other examples of his work can be found throughout this part of the island.

Set at the end of a long, straight tree-lined avenue, Wells has all the features expected of a Tudor manor: mellow redbrick, an asymmetrical gabled façade with three-sided oriel window, and handsomely castellated entrance door.

Home to branches of the Doyne family until 1964, it was then sold to German-born Gerhard and Giselle Rosler who already had clothing factories in their native country and Belgium and subsequently opened another operation in Enniscorthy.

Sadly Gerhard died last year and his widow has decided to move into a more manageable bungalow the couple built 10 years ago within the old walled garden: "I need somewhere smaller and cosier," she explains. Which means that only for the second time since it was built, Wells - together with almost 100 surrounding acres - has come on the market with an asking price of €4.75 million through Knight Frank Ganly Walters.

Rising three storeys over basement and running to some 2,150sq m (23,142sq ft), the main house is certainly splendid but not intimidating.

Much of the interior is panelled in oak that originally came from the estate; it is used, for example, in the elaborately carved staircase which rises to the sprung arches of a typical Tudoresque perpendicular ceiling and thence to nine main bedrooms.

More oak panelling can be found in the diningroom, the library (where books are kept behind caged fronts) and in what during the 16th century would have been called 'the parlour'.

In the last of these, Daniel Robertson's awareness of historical accuracy is shown by the introduction of transitional elements such as restrained Doric pilasters amid the more flamboyant Gothic panelling. Only the design of the drawingroom would have puzzled a Tudor king - it is decked out in grandiose Louis XV-style painted and gilded boiseries with warmth provided by a white marble neo-Classical chimneypiece.

The room's decorations are reputed to have been given to the house by an English monarch and although nobody is quite sure which, it certainly wasn't Henry VIII.

Outside, as well as an extant stone stableyard, the courtyards that once held a variety of workshops have been converted into 15 one and two-bedroom apartments.

There are a further five chalets beyond this, along with a leisure area including a 10-pin bowling alley and games area. Lawns to the front and rear would be perfect for a jousting tournament, or perhaps more gentle sporting activities such as croquet.

The surrounding land is divided between fields, woods and handsome gardens. Only one of Henry VIII's six wives, Katherine Parr, managed to outlive him but any of her predecessors would have been happy to find a retreat at Wells. So too will whoever becomes its new owner.