Last year, more houses sold on Herbert Park in Dublin 4 than in the past five years combined – not a single home sold in 2015 and there was just one sale a year in the four years prior. But in 2016, six period homes on the leafy road that bisects the park hit the property price register, with buyers splashing out just shy of €20 million for the trophy houses.
December was particularly busy, with three houses selling for €3 million-plus on the street. Neighbouring detached houses, numbers 36 and 38 – on the Ballsbridge end of the road – changed hands on December 21st for €3 million and €3.2 million respectively. The houses occupy a substantial site adjoining the former Cablelink site which is earmarked for redevelopment. Were the houses to be demolished, the combined site would enjoy very attractive frontage onto Herbert Park. It's a site with some history: 36 Herbert Park was bought by the previous Cablelink site owners, and the two properties were bundled for sale with a €30 million asking price in 2007.
At the Donnybrook end of the street, three similar semi-detached houses built by G&T Crampton, numbers 8, 10 and 12 each achieved between €3.675 and €3.8 million. Across the street, number 11 sold for €2.5 million – something of a steal for the 362sq m redbrick with west-facing rear garden. At least two of the four buyers are relocating from smaller houses situated less than 500m from their new homes.
Meanwhile on adjoining Crampton-built Arranmore and Argyle roads, where houses rarely trade hands, 9 Arranmore Road achieved €1.95 million, and 8 Argyle Road a slightly lower €1.9 million – both houses required updating. The Argyle Road sale marks the return of the Crampton family to Herbert Park, the buyer being none other than Kildare-based George David Crampton, who has been a director of the renowned family building company for more than three decades.
A slightly less traditional Herbert Park house that has yet to find a buyer is 1 Orchard Lane, a relatively modern 362sq m Tudor-style house that hit the market last year for €3.25 million. In recent weeks it has been priced to sell at €2 million.
And watch this space, as yet another fine Crampton house on Argyle Road is expected to hit the market very soon with an asking price well above €2 million.
