Blackrock/€3 million-plus: A religious order of sisters is selling a large Victorian house on over half an acre of gardens backing onto Willow Park school. Kate McMorrow reports
A religious order of sisters is selling a detached early Victorian house backing onto the grounds of Willow Park school on Cross Avenue, Blackrock, Co Dublin.
With over half an acre of gardens and wonderful period features, an imaginative new owner could transform number 19 into a fine family home with not much more than a decorative revamp.
GVA Donal O'Buachalla is expecting the house to fetch in excess of €3 million when it goes to auction on April 21st. Houses of this stature rarely come up for sale on Cross Avenue, so interest should be keen despite the strong guide price.
The 375 sq m (4,037 sq ft) redbrick and stone house stands well back from the road behind thick hedges, with a sweeping drive and bright flower beds flanking the granite steps. A front door with etched glass panels and interior shutters opens to a wide hallway with fine ceiling plasterwork.
Quite magnificent oak parquet flooring is inlaid with mahogany and buffed to a high shine. A Victorian light piece hanging from the centre rose is believed to be of considerable antique value. Light from a tall coloured glass window on the half landing slants down to the main hall. Either side of the hall are two well-proportioned bay-windowed reception rooms with original marble mantelpieces and crisp ceiling plasterwork.
Window shutters are in perfect working order and wide-plank pitch pine floorboards can be glimpsed under the carpets.
One of the reception rooms, probably the original diningroom, opens to a butler's pantry with original china storage and an adjoining wash-up area. Across the hall, the drawingroom opens through carved double doors to a second sittingroom currently used as a chapel.
Although in need of modernising, the garden area accommodation is immaculate and has obvious potential to create a great kitchen and everyday living space and perhaps an au pair's en suite bedroom.
Among the principal rooms are a good-sized kitchen with an inglenook set into the painted brick wall. There is also a breakfastroom with fireplace, laundry room, scullery, a bathroom and a garden storage room with a shower.
A single room on the hall return could be used as a study. The first floor rooms have been subdivided in such a way that returning them back to four large double bedrooms would be a relatively easy job. Marble fireplaces here are in good condition. The bathroom has a claw foot bath and old-fashioned sanitary ware. There are original panelled cupboards in the upstairs rooms.
The sheer size of the grounds could appeal to developers hoping to build a small apartment scheme. However, as the entire property is Schedule 11 listed, obtaining permission to develop in the back garden would be far from straightforward.
The rear lawn is over 60 metres (195 ft) long and almost as wide, running down to some ornamental trees and a wall, beyond which are the grounds of Willow Park school.
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