Beautifully upgraded redbrick in Orwell Park for €2.95m

Five-bed Rathgar home has been lovingly maintained by its owners for more than 30 years

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Address: Willowdale, 24 Orwell Park, Rathgar, Dublin 6
Price: €2,950,000
Agent: Sherry FitzGerald

Orwell Park, with its mix of Edwardian and Victorian houses, is one of the premium residential roads in Dublin 6. Popular due to the elegant houses and its proximity to private schools, it has recorded an abundance of sales over the last seven years – with significant prices achieved.

In 2013, number 28 was sold for €2.365 million, and in 2014 numbers 12 and 14 were sold for €1.977 million and €3.795 million respectively. In 2017 number 57 sold for €2.4 million and number 32 went for €2.35 million. Since the residential property price register was introduced, there have been more than 49 sales recorded on the road and the parks that connect to it.

There’s a flurry of new building activity under way in the vicinity, but these original homes have stood the test of time for generations of families, with many only coming to the market once a family has been reared. Such is the case with Willowdale at number 24.

It was designed and constructed by the prolific Edwardian architect George Palmer Beater – who also built number 22, an exact replica. They were constructed in 1904 in the grounds of his house Minore, for his two sons. Number 22 sold in 2013 for €1.75 million.

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Number 24, with all of its original features and extending to 311sq m (3,346sq ft) over three floors, is now on the market through Sherry FitzGerald with an asking price of €2.95 million.

Garden room

The owners, who are downsizing, have called Willowdale home for 30 years and over that period they converted an old shed to the rear into a superb garden room, giving the property four reception rooms, three of which have original open fireplaces.

Some lovely features include original pocket doors which interlink the dining and smaller drawingroom, and the ornate front door located to the side of house.

The property initially had six bedrooms, but the owners decided to convert one of the rooms into a huge bathroom and adjacent dressingroom – the like of which would give any five-star hotel a run for its money. Designed and constructed by expert craftsman John Daly – who spent quite some time in the house as he also built the country style kitchen – they are built to last in solid hardwoods.

The rear garden wraps around the house and features two al fresco dining areas to catch the sun at optimal times.

In turnkey condition, Willowdale has been carefully upgraded and maintained by its owners for the past 30 years.

Elizabeth Birdthistle

Elizabeth Birdthistle

Elizabeth Birdthistle, a contributor to The Irish Times, writes about property, fine arts, antiques and collectables