Pretty gate lodge by River Dargle has peaceful wooded garden

A pretty 19th century three-bedroom gate lodge with frontage to the Dargle river, that was once part of the Goulding estate, is to be auctioned next month by Sherry FitzGerald with a guide price of £280,000-plus. Dargle Glen Lodge is at the entrance to Dargle Cottage, which formerly belonged to Lady Valerie Goulding and the late Sir Basil, and is now owned by businessman John Ronan.

The 930 sq ft single-storey house is on an acre of land, much of which slopes down to the Dargle river. Positioned at the beginning of the Enniskerry road at its junction with the N11, it has been in the ownership of the same family, who helped create the beautiful Dargle Glen gardens, for a generation. While the accommodation is limited by the character of the house, the rooms are very spacious and could either be extended or converted with little trouble. The sittingroom off the small hall is bright, with a newly-installed polished maple floor and a wall-length mahogany and tile fireplace.

Through the sittingroom is a kitchen/ diningroom, which has great period character. There are wood-panelled walls, a maple floor and a good range of fitted cupboards. A utility room off the kitchen has storage space and room for the family freezer. The main bathroom by the back door has been given a stylish revamp.

The bedrooms are to the left of the entrance hall. The principal room is large, with a new tiled en suite shower room. The second bedroom, a double, also has fitted wardrobes and looks out across the river. The third bedroom shares an entrance with the main bedroom and would make an ideal dressingroom.

The wooded garden, part of the original Goulding estate, has an abundance of greenery and plants and the sound of the river creates a very peaceful atmosphere. The entrance is shared with the owners of the main house at the top of the long driveway. A paved terrace has been built on the sunny side of the lodge and an old Chinese Lantern tree grows beside the back door. There is access down to the river, where a new owner could create a tranquil seating area.