HOWTH: €1.8M:There's even a gurgling brook in the grounds of this large yet intimate period house on Dublin's northside
THE EDWARDIAN style and features of Wyvern, Dungriffin Road, Howth, Co Dublin have survived the years with flair. Built in 1906, Wyvern’s origins are evident from the goodly number of long sash windows, the gabled roof and the lush surrounding gardens appearing between trees as you travel up the short drive.
The gardens are what make it special; full of nooks, secret places and doors to paths between the trees, they display all the exuberance of the Edwardian passion for a “rural” style. There is even a gurgling brook.
Wyvern is uphill from Howth village; the old Howth tram used run past its front gate. With 295sq m (3175sq ft) of floor space, it has four bedrooms (two ensuite), four reception rooms and a large kitchen–dining room extending into a family/sun room.
For sale by private treaty through Sherry FitzGerald, the asking price is €1.8m.
A long entrance hallway, running from the front to the rear, with windows giving light at both ends, is mirrored by a similar first- floor landing. As a layout this gives fluid access to all of the rooms and creates an intimacy unusual in so large a house.
An impressively ornate period marble fireplace in the front–facing sitting room predates Wyvern: together with a less ornate version in the dining room it was put in place as part of an extensive refurbishment by the owners. The refurbishment retained the original doors and ceiling plasterwork and saw original windows replaced with hardwood, double-glazed sash versions.
A semi-circular first-floor gallery looks down on both the hallway and an interesting semi-circular recessed area under the stairwell.
The rustic-style kitchen and family room run across the rear, the latter an addition to the original house. Chinese slate flooring and walls of window overlooking the gardens create a unity of style, while a raised brick fireplace gives a homely feel. The Chalon fitted kitchen has a centre island and Lacanche Range.
The interconnecting sitting and dining rooms have high ceilings, a solid oak floor and lots of light from a front bay window.
Also on the ground floor there is an elegantly sober dining room in what would once have been a drawing room (there are three dining areas) and a study, a conversion of what was the garage.
All four bedrooms are good sized. The main one has a walk-in dressing room and shower ensuite and all have high ceilings and a feeling of space. There is rear vehicular access.
Wyvern, Dungriffith Road, Howth, Co Dublin
A four-bedroom house built in 1906 which has been extensively refurbished.
Agent:Sherry FitzGerald
