Large period houses rarely come on the market in Chapelizod, a busy but quaint village between the Phoenix Park and the River Liffey in Dublin 20. As a result there should be keen interest in Clonbur House, a Georgian six-bedroom house on 1.3 acres backing on to the Phoenix Park and with its own entrance to the park. Jackson-Stops will auction the property on April 12th when selling agent Edwin Dempsey expects a price in excess of £1.6 million. House builders will almost certainly be interested in Clonbur House because of its extensive grounds and prime location. Although the steeply sloping site has limited potential, it is thought that the grounds could accommodate a scheme of apartments and, in fact, there is an apartment block next door.
Set high overlooking the Liffey, Clonbur House is reached at the end of a narrow driveway that winds its way up through the property, past steep woodland, a hard tennis court and on to the tarmacadam forecourt in front of the house. There is a second entrance off the main road, although this is boarded up at present.
Built in the 1830s, the two-storey house has a modern single-storey annex bringing the total floor area up to around 4,000 sq ft.
Inside, Clonbur House has a terrific layout for entertaining, with three fine reception rooms and a large teak-panelled hallway that could easily accommodate a crowd for drinks.
To the left of the hall is a spacious livingroom with twin sash windows looking down towards the river and a bay window with a view towards the tennis court. This room has an ornate marble fireplace and simple ceiling cornices.
There is a door to the largest reception room, a 30 ft ballroom with twin bay windows and a polished timber floor. This room can also be entered from the hall.
On the other side of the hall is a formal diningroom with ceiling cornices and a carved marble fireplace.
Also leading off the hall is the kitchen/ diningroom, with plain white units and pine clad ceiling. A lobby off the kitchen leads to the annex where there is a large recreation room, a bedroom, gym and store room. All of these rooms need refurbishment.
Upstairs there are several big bright bedrooms but best of all is the main bedroom - a large, almost square room with French doors leading out on to a sheltered patio and the garden. There is a big en suite bathroom and the entire suite has been recently decorated.
A second bedroom has an en suite bathroom and the remaining bedrooms are all comfortable doubles. The sixth bedroom is currently used as a den and has a built-in bar.
Much of Clonbur's grounds are in front of the house in a wooded area that descends to the road. Behind the house is a large well-tended garden that slopes upwards towards the park. It is a charming old-fashioned garden filled with fruit trees, roses and a pond. A heavy garden door opens into a wooded area of the park and there is a road close by.
