BRAY €725,000:St Paul's, Herbert Road, Bray, Co Wicklow
HERBERT ROAD is the long and very winding road linking the N11 to Bray’s main street. It’s been built on at varying stages down through the decades, but the closer to Bray’s town centre, the older and more substantial the houses tend to be.
St Paul’s Lodge is one of the older houses – built in solid Victorian style in 1904. At more than 2,000 sq ft, the detached two-storey house is large. Its size and commanding position contradict the image the word “lodge” usually conjures up in this context. It’s typical of many suburban red brick houses of the time in that it looks much bigger from the outside than it feels inside – due in part to the manageable size of all the rooms. It’s for sale through Sherry Fitzgerald for €725,000.
There are four bedrooms – three average-sized doubles and a single. An attractive feature is that most rooms, including most of the bedrooms, are dual aspect, with either tall sash windows or box bays looking out onto the gardens surrounding the house on four sides. The bathroom, presumably once a bedroom, has a period-style roll-top bath.
Downstairs there are three reception rooms: a small dining room and family room to the front off the good-sized hall, and a larger, more formal living room to the back. There’s also a downstairs toilet in what was probably – given the Victorians’ fondness for such things – the butler’s pantry or maid’s room.
The house was extended 12 years ago by the present owners, whose family has lived here for more than 50 years. They added a conservatory and a small extension to the kitchen which opens out onto both the back and front gardens. This is an ideal arrangement for growing families as there’s no need to trek through the house.
Tall trees surround the perimeter of the beautifully kept mature gardens, so St Paul’s feels private yet it is only a short walk from the main street.
Locals will remember that St Paul’s Lodge was for many years the home of the principal of the adjoining primary school, St Andrews, which has since relocated elsewhere. The old building was demolished and the site is now a public car park.
There is off-street parking for three cars, but as the front garden is big, that space could be enlarged if needed.
Description:detached, four-bed period home
Agent:Sherry Fitzgerald
