Co Kildare: A small country house of elegance and character on one acre near Maynooth, Co Kildare is expected to make in excess of €700,000 when it is auctioned by Coonan Real Estate Alliance on October 22nd.
Pebble Hill House at Dunboyne Road, Maynooth probably dates from around the same time as nearby Carton House and was used over the years as a steward's house for the estate.
It is obviously a relic from a more leisurely era and though the main house was perfectly adequate for the needs of the various tenants, the living area has been extended and improved in recent years to include part of one of the wings of the old courtyard.
The former coach house now accommodates a most charming livingroom with high ceiling, open fireplace, French windows and a door leading out to the garden which is wrapped around the sides and back of the house. An old smoke house, with oodles of space and a low beamed ceiling, serves as a terrific kitchen with lots of atmosphere and charm.
The owners have also installed a wrought iron spiral staircase to take you up to two bedrooms and a bathroom on the first floor. In the unlikely event that the new owners still don't have enough living space in 255 sq m (2,750 sq ft), there is the option of taking in the remainder of the courtyard building which extends to another 167 sq m (1,800 sq ft).
At the moment these buildings are in their original condition - a three-horse stable, pony stable, barn and a 12-stall cow byre.
The main two-storey house is equally enchanting with virtually all its original features still in place. It has a fine diningroom and sittingroom, both with cast-iron and tile fireplaces and old window shutters. There are three more bedrooms, bringing the total to five, more than is needed by most families.
The much-loved house exudes great taste and style, much like the garden that has been laid out on traditional cottage-style lines. There is a lovely mix of shrubs, trees and plants that flower for much of the year, none more so than the beds of bluebells in springtime and the roses in the summer months.
