Number 15 Crosthwaite Park West, a 352sq m (3,789sq ft) three-storey over-basement house which is for sale for €1.05 million through DNG, will need a lot of money to turn it back into the handsome family home it presumably was when built in the 1860s. Crosthwaite Park West is described as “probably one of the most majestic of terraces in all of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown ... built on an extravagant scale, with exuberant architectural detailing” in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Co Council’s architectural conservation appraisal.
But in the 20th century, many of the three-storey over-basement houses – which are protected structures – lost their grandeur as they were turned into flats and bedsits.
Period details
Number 15 is divided into four old-fashioned flats but it seems that important period details – elaborate cornicing, windows, marble fireplaces – have been mostly undamaged in the process. Dalkey architect Johnny Bennett of Extend estimates that it could cost about €400,000 to €500,000 to refurbish a house of this size, depending on the level of finish.
The interconnecting doors between the two reception rooms on the ground floor – currently a livingroom and bedroom – are intact, and there’s a tall bay window overlooking the railed park.
The second-floor flat divides what was probably a wide drawingroom across the width of the house, and looks as if it could be restored.
There are two small bathrooms on the first and second returns, and another flat on the top, third floor.
There are no stairs connecting the basement flat to the upstairs part of the house: this flat seems to have been upgraded fairly recently and with further refurbishment, could potentially be rented out.
The back garden is fairly small: it has been divided, and a house built behind it faces on to the lane that runs between Crosthwaite and the houses on Royal Terrace East.
There is one parking space in front of number 15.
The railed park between Crosthwaite’s terraces east and west is a well-maintained green space.
