Lansdowne Road takes its moniker from William Petty-FitzMaurice, 1st Marquess of Lansdowne, one of only two Irish-born British prime ministers, the other being the Duke of Wellington. He is remembered by historians for his contribution to ending the American War of Independence.
Bestowed with many titles during his career, nearby Shelbourne Road also took his name when he was the Earl of Shelburne. Recent findings by Australian historian Michael Reed also revealed that Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge – married to Prince William – also has blue blood as a descendant of Petty-FitzMaurice after her ancestry was traced back more than five generations.
Period residence
0 of 7
Number 20 Lansdowne Road is a fine semi-detached period residence standing at 351sq m (3,778sq ft).
A double-height extension on the return was built in the last 15 years and has added an extra bedroom, bathroom and study upstairs and a larger kitchen area at garden level. In fact it mirrors the extension next door at number 22.
The garden level can be accessed from below the front steps, which is ideal for the mundane chore of lugging shopping in and out of the house rather than up the 15 granite steps to the impressive portico upstairs. The garden level has two reception rooms which wouldn’t look out of place in a 17th century castle.
Exposed granite walls frame a dining and living room with herringbone teak parquet floors. Both rooms have raised brick fireplaces with huge stoves and they lead to a pine and granite kitchen.
To the rear is an octagonalbreakfast room which opens out onto the 30m garden with vehicular access to the rear.
Upstairs, through the main entrance is a vestibule of impressive proportions with egg and dart coving which extends throughout the property.
Unusually, all the doors and window shutter boxes have been stripped back to their original pine, which in conjunction with the exposed pine flooring add warmth to the two vast interconnecting reception rooms complete with period marble fireplaces.
Views
On the first floor the master bedroom with imposing door architraves is reminiscent of a suite in a five-star hotel.
It also has a working fireplace, high ceilings and graceful windows which allow views over the broad and leafy Lansdowne Road.
The en suite bears a sign saying The Baths of Caracalla. As the second largest public Roman baths in history, the sign is quite apt, as this bathroom is actually large enough to be a bedroom.
With its own working fireplace and a vanity unit, which it has to be said is rather ugly and unsympathetic, the centrepiece is a giant bath with marble surround which enjoys views of Dublin city’s familiar skyline.
On the second floor are three further bedrooms – two doubles and a single, all with fireplaces and up the last flight of stairs lies a quaint bathroom with exposed granite walls and wooden beams.
Receiver sale
While there is some cosmetic work to be done – the wallpaper is slightly scuffed and the teak parquet would benefit from a fresh sanding – this is a very handsome property in a very popular location.
It’s a receiver sale through estate agent Savills with a €2.95 million price tag.
Number 30 Lansdowne Road, which was purchased in August 2013 for €967,000, is also now for sale after refurbishment through Sherry FitzGerald with a price tag of €3.25 million.
