Redbrick reminder of another era

GLENAGEARY: €2.5MOld-world elegance is evident in a south Co Dublin house, one of the few to go for sale at auction this year

TIME, for the most part. has stood still at Ashley on Adelaide Road in Glenageary, Co Dublin, a house which has only been in the ownership of three families since it was built in 1895.

It still has the old servants’ bells, the larder and the pantry and the old linen cupboards in which the linen once was kept under lock and key by a servant. Antique light fittings that were converted to electricity some time early in the last century are also included in the sale.

In the same family for 62 years, Ashley has been maintained so well that the original Shanks Co sink and standalone bath are still in the main bathroom, the magnificent leaf patterned stained glass in the hall still retains its lustre and the sash windows appear to be in great condition and, according to the owner, have never had to be reconditioned.

This fine solidly-built redbrick detached house at the corner of Adelaide Road and Silchester Park is on just under an acre of grounds and is one of the few houses to go to auction this year but Lisney thinks the quality of the house – they are calling it “the finest residence in south county Dublin” – will attract interest. So much so they are putting it to auction on April 13th. The advised minimum value (AMV) is €2.5 million.

At 400sq m (4,300sq ft) there are lots of rooms – including five bedrooms – over two levels, including a drawing room with a bay window, an oak parquet floor and French doors to the garden, and a large diningroom. Both have high ceilings and coving.

There’s also a study overlooking the front garden. A downstairs toilet and cloakroom area off the main hall has the original Victorian mosaic tiled floor and and is hidden behind a stained glass door.

The kitchen wing is a corridor of rooms with several old blue-shelved pantries. One of the few rooms to strike an odd note is the blue and yellow 1970s kitchen with an oil fired Rayburn which a new owner will probably update unless they are fans of retro-chic. Although dated in style, the units were probably top of the range in their day and in such perfect condition they could have been fitted yesterday.

Adjoining the kitchen is a utility room with a huge Belfast sink and a larder. There’s also a small breakfast area on this level and a bedroom.

Up the mahogany staircase there are four double bedrooms. Two are exceptionally big, and include the former nursery, a dual- aspect room with a brown marble fireplace, and the main bedroom which has a bay window and a sink unit. There’s also a twin room and another double bedroom off the landing.

A large bathroom-cum-dressing room is one of the few rooms, apart from the kitchen, that is at odds with the rest of the house, with a dated grey-coloured bathroom suite and heavy brown storage cupboards .

In the linen room there’s access via a ladder to the attic, a large space with good head height, divided into two areas. One area is currently used as a storage room while the other has an old model railway and some lead soldiers on display .

The back garden of Ashley is a lovely, secluded, meandering space surrounded by mature trees and containing lots of features of interest including a pond and an old summerhouse.

There’s a lawn surrounded by trees and shrubs with a garden bench, another bigger lawn that was once a tennis court, a vegetable garden and several storage sheds.

A double garage in what is believed to be the original coach house could be coverted into an office or a den.

Ashley, Adelaide Road, Glenageary, Co Dublin

Large, well-maintained redbrick house with period features, mature gardens is for sale by auction

Agent: Lisney