When Tresillian House was built it probably sat on a vast tract of land, with a working farm, several outbuildings and the rest, because in 1865 Foxrock was very much in the country. However, the railway line into Dublin had arrived which would help turn it into a prosperous suburb of the capital.

The Dublin Builder at the time noted that Tresillian was one of “several villa residences and elegant mansions ... of a very superior character” built in the area. The fine three-storey house in a cul de sac off Brighton Road stands on an acre and is surrounded by mature gardens, which a gardener maintains every week.

The gardens are so lush and well planned, the two-bedroom, 112sq m (1,200sq ft) bungalow built on the property in the 1980s for extra family accommodation can’t be seen from the house.

It has been in the same family for more than 40 years. Inside it’s decorated in a grand style befitting its age and many period features, with elaborate swagged window treatments and bespoke V’Soske Joyce handmade Irish carpets, that new owners will surely keep. It’s one of those solid period houses with the simple layout typical of its time – there are four fine rooms on each of the top two levels, while down at garden level where the ceilings are lower the layout has been altered by the family. Here there are several rooms, including a kitchen and bathroom, so it could be used as self-contained accommodation.

At hall level – up the granite steps, in the front door, set in an usual curved reveal and through the outer hall – there are two reception rooms on either side to the front, a less formal sitting room to the rear and the kitchen, which was fitted about 15 years ago by Dalkey Design, complete with fire-engine red Aga. There is access from this level, through doors with intricate stained glass and down a flight of stone steps to a courtyard suntrap garden.

Upstairs, where the ceilings appear to be as lofty as downstairs, there are four very large bedrooms, one with en suite and dressing area, and each dual aspect.

At this stage the bathrooms are dated and even though the timber and granite kitchen is a relatively recent addition, new owners will probably replace that too.

There was a time when any house in Foxrock with a large garden would have developers nosing around. Now, Tresillian House will likely primarily appeal to families househunting in the upper reaches of the market, looking for space, privacy and good gardens and who are prepared to undertake some renovation.

There are several outbuildings and the bungalow has its own vehicular entrance out to a narrow line. The garden, which is divided into sections, has a hard-surface tennis court and what looks to be an original greenhouse. The house which extends to 414sq m (4,455sq ft) is set back from the road and accessed via electric gates.

The owner is downsizing and now Tresillian House, with its more recently built bungalow, is for sale through Colliers, asking €4.75 million.