Classic Edwardian near Herbert Park

It is curious to think that in 1905 when the first owners of number 11 Herbert Park in Donnybrook bought their five-bedroom semi-detached redbrick house from the builder, the land just beyond the end of the road was nothing more than an enormous field.

Lord Herbert had given the 32-acre plot to the council two years previously to mark the coming of age of his son Lord Herbert, but it wasn’t until 1911 that the council decided what to do with it. After a design competition and a spend of about £4,000,Herbert Park, one of Dublin’s loveliest urban gardens, was fully open to the public.

Refurbished

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The current owners bought number 11 Herbert Park in 1985 when it had already been refurbished. Now, 30 years later, it’s time for them to trade down from the 3,900sq ft, five-bedroom house.

It is for sale through DNG for €2.95 million. The most recent sale on Herbert Park was directly across the road at 6 Herbert Park. It sold last September for €2.36 million, although that semi-detached house is a very different style.

Number 11 is an Edwardian suburban family house, spread over three floors.

It has architectural features that were common in grand houses of the time, such as a fireplace in the wide hall, stained glass in the front door, a timber-trimmed porch and high ceilings.

The house also has two bay windows in the side elevation.

There are also two fine reception rooms. The one at the front is a gracious livingroom, while the back room is a formal diningroom withone of those bay windows.

Upstairs the five bedrooms, which are all doubles, are spread over two floors. Originally there would have been six bedrooms but one of those was converted into a large en suite bathroom for the main bedroom. There are also two other bathrooms, one on each level.

The kitchen is at the back. It had already been extended when the current owners bought the house and it is likely new owners would do some work on it. While it is a large, family-friendly space incorporating a living area, a kitchen area and a large utility room, it could benefit from updating and redesign.

The space is so large that a modern eat-in kitchen and family space could be created without extending into the garden.

There’s a good-sized rear garden and off-street parking in the front for two cars. There’s also a garage to the side.