DUBLIN 2 - €1.590M:THE BOTTLES found under floorboards when the vendors were "pulling apart and renovating" 136 Upper Leeson Street, Dublin 2, weren't just any old bottles: they had belonged to poet Patrick Kavanagh, a lodger for several years in the mid 1960s.
The house seems to have had a very full 1960s existence in fact, and became known as the 'doss' house and was named, with affection and disapproval, '10 Rillington Place' after the site of the crimes of Christie, Britain's notorious serial killer.
The front views, of the length of tree-lined Dartmouth Road as far as Ranelagh and framed by Leeson Street Church and spire, couldn't be more quintessentially 19th century Dublin. Today's house, completely renovated but with most of its period features intact, has all of the stylish and welcoming qualities you'd expect from a survivor who's seen a bit of life.
Of a good size, at 150sq m (1,625sq ft),there are three bedrooms, two reception rooms and a large kitchen/breakfastroom.
The price is €1.590 million, with Sherry FitzGerald looking after the private treaty sale.
Meticulously protective of period features, the recently completed renovation has just as meticulously replaced those which couldn't be salvaged. While shutters are original and functioning, and cornicing and an original cast-iron fireplace are intact, the hardwood, sash windows throughout are new as are the solid oak floorboards which replace the sadly rotten originals.
The floor in the kitchen/breakfastroom has been lowered to make for a higher ceiling and a feature window has been added above the return for both light and aesthetics.
Beside these the ground floor reception rooms have high ceilings with good cornicing, picture rail and a front window making the most of the view.
Rear French doors lead to designer Hugh Ryan's cleverly landscaped garden/ patio with its tall, pale green bamboos and circular paving.
The main bedroom runs across the front of the first floor and, given its magnificent views down Dartmouth Road, may have been the original drawing room. Under the floorboards here a fully serviced en suite lies awaiting completion; the vendors decided not to install it for fear of harming the room's proportions. All three bedrooms have built-in wardrobes and there is a large, family bathroom.
Believing that the poet's bottles "belong to the house", the vendors will be leaving them in the safe keeping of new owners.
136 Upper Leeson Street, Dublin 2
Three bedrooms, two receptions and a large kitchen/breakfastroom
Agent: Sherry FitzGerald
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