A century ago, lying in bed in the master bedroom of 2 Marlborough Road, just off North Circular Road in Dublin 7, the sound of neighing horses would have filled the air. At one time 862 steeds were kept at Marlborough Barracks after which the road is named.
The terrace of 13 houses that line the road was constructed for the officers of the British Army, and when the garrison was handed over to the Irish forces after the Anglo Irish Treaty in 1922 it was re-named McKee Barracks.
Horses are still kept at the barracks at the end of the road, as it is the headquarters of the Irish Army Equitation School, but according to the owner of 2 Marlborough Road, the faint sound of seals barking from nearby Dublin Zoo is now a more familiar sound on quiet mornings.
The property is deceptively spacious and extends to 174sq m (1,873sq ft) over three floors. Purchased by the owners a decade ago when it was in two units, the couple totally refurbished the property, with the exception of a good-sized room on the first return. Currently used as storage, it would make a fine fifth bedroom with enough space to include an en-suite bathroom.
At hall level are well-proportioned reception rooms which retain all their period features. The bay window floods the drawing room with light, as does the bay in the master bedroom overhead.
To the rear, a bright open-plan kitchen-cum-breakfastroom opens out to the back garden which is home to a spectacular maple tree, whose leaves are beginning their autumnal turn.
In its current layout the house has four bedrooms, in addition to the room on the return. There is also an option to extend into the attic as neighbours have done, if more space is required.
A further selling point of the property in addition to its size, quiet and convenient location is a large garage, which can house two cars or indeed a boat. This opens on to a private gated lane.
Lisney is seeking €625,000 for 2 Marlborough Road.