Rathgar is one of those quietly classy areas where you get the sense that even though fashions in coffee drinking may change, little else does. Well, some things do: in 1863 the then just-built 25 Garville Avenue was valued at 330 – no missing zeroes, just £30. Though you have to bear in mind how long it would have taken you to earn that back in Queen Victoria’s day.
One hundred and fifty years later, the house is for sale through Savills for €1.8 million, and inside it's interesting to see how much of the original has remained intact. The house is a protected structure, and a report carried out on behalf of the current owners gives a wealth of detail about its features and history.
Set back from the road, with a pair of huge, mature trees framing the entrance, cast-iron gates lead to a wide, gravelled area in which, when the house was new, you could easily have turned a horse and carriage around. This now provides ample off-street parking.
0 of 4
Inside there are original hardwood floors, cornices, ceiling roses, working shutters, picture rails, fireplaces, some stained glass and that same sense of calm good taste that pervades Rathgar in general.
Located on the ground floor is the drawing room, lounge, study and kitchen, in which you can still see the original stone arch of a huge old range, though it now houses a more up to date gas affair.
This leads through to a contemporary dining extension, with glass doors on to the large, enclosed back garden. This generous space is laid out in a patio area and wide lawn.
Upstairs are four generous bedrooms, none of which is en suite. These are doubles and there is a shared bathroom here for all.
The master bedroom, however has an intriguing feature – a free-standing cast-iron bath in hot pink.
What would Queen Victoria have said? It's quirky and, you never know, she might just have been amused.
