Houses in grounds of former country estate

Castleknock: from €1.2m:Large stylish houses in the former grounds of Somerton House have a hotel and leisure centre nearby and come with golf membership, writes Fiona Tyrrell

An exclusive development of luxury homes at Somerton beside Castleknock Golf and Country Club in Dublin 15 come to the market this week.

Quality interiors and a top address are the big selling points at Monarch Properties' Somerton, an enclave of 16 houses built in the former grounds of the magnificent Somerton House.

The houses are large, stylish and fit-out is lavish. Fifteen of the 16 houses are five-beds with living space of 243-296sq m (2,614-3,190sq ft). A two-bedroom gate-house has 131sq m (1,409sq ft). Prices start at €1.2 million and go to up to €3 million. Ownership brings two memberships of the golf club. Seven of the houses have already been purchased by people in the area looking to trade up.

Somerton was originally apportioned from the Luttrellstown Estate by Henry Lawes Luttrell. Then it was bought by the Brooke family. Charles Stuart Parnell was a cousin and frequent visitor.

Later, Somerton become part of the estate of T K Laidlaw who used the grounds to breed two Grand National winners as well as many other champion horses.

Monarch Properties acquired the lands for £1.5 million in 1990 and today Somerton is a country resort on 160 acres featuring a golf club, a 140-bed four-star hotel jointly owned by Monarch and Tower Hotel Group and a leisure and fitness club.

Designed by architects WDR & RT Taggart and inspired by the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, the houses have a distinct contemporary look.

Inside, finish is superb. Bathroom tiles are from House of Vogue, wardrobes are from Houseworks, and fireplaces from Lamartine. Each house will have a custom-designed SieMatic kitchen. The houses have a full technology spec too including digital, cable and satellite TV, broadband, home cinema, surround sound and multi-room audio.

A very chic showhouse with muted browns and understated golds by interior design company Lawson Whyte gives a flavour of what's on offer.

A large entrance hall with feature solid oak staircase leads to a the main living area, which is cleverly divided up into three zones - kitchen, living and informal dining. Also on this floor there is a formal livingroom in black and gold and a diningroom in dark browns.

Upstairs there are five bedrooms (four good-sized doubles and one single). Three of the bedrooms are en suite.

All houses have garages (many detached) and good gardens laid out in patio and lawn.

Owners at Somerton will have access to their own Victorian garden with original glass house, tended by gardener Billy Cooper.