Part of Grand Canal Street, the environs of which are the most sought after residential locations for millennials in the city, was once known as Artichoke Road.
French émigré John Villiboise leased land where he grew the vegetable, and the road along with his house took on the moniker which appeared on maps from 1797.
Just off what was Artichoke Road, which is now filled with local eateries, lies Albert Place; a quiet cul-de-sac from the Victorian era. It is said that these houses were constructed as staff houses for the nearby well-heeled of Merrion Square, but census records from 1911 show that these properties were all privately owned.
Location
Today, they are in demand due to their proximity to Dublin Docklands, the city centre and the DART. Number 10 was purchased by two siblings in 2001. While much of the work inside was carried out by former residents, the pair added an extension housing a utility and bathroom on the ground floor, and rejigged the old family bathroom upstairs to allow for a large family bathroom and an en-suite for the main bedroom.
Turnkey condition
The house in turnkey condition, is delightful with a perfect marriage between period details and contemporary features.
At ground level lies an open plan drawing and dining room; the wall between the two was removed to allow lots of light into the dining space. The drawing room, heated by an open fire, has wonderful arches which are also echoed in the master bedroom upstairs and curiously in the kitchen pantry.
A wall was also removed to the rear which now opens the space between the kitchen and breakfast area giving the room a better flow and abundance of light. This opens out to a small but well maintained courtyard garden, which would happily accommodate artichokes.
There are two fine double bedrooms on the upper floor and a third which would be a bit tight with a standard double. The house has lots of quirky features and would make a fine alternative to the more sterile apartment alternatives in this area. The 115sq m (1,237sq ft) property is on the market through Hunters seeking €775,000. Next door, Number 11, at 137sq m with a larger garden sold in 2017 for €820,000.
