Co WicklowThe Tunnel, an attractive five- bedroom, detached Edwardian house in The Burnaby, Greystones, Co Wicklow has come on the market with a guide price in excess of €1.3 million.
It is customary to attach to Burnaby properties comments like "much sought after", in reference to the area, and "rare opportunity", in reference to one's chances of living there.
Both are true in relation to The Tunnel - it is likely to be a much sought after property when it comes to auction through HOK Residential on September 23rd. It is also one of the more mid-range but nonetheless substantial 279 sq m (3,000 sq ft) Burnaby homes that do not come onto the market very often.
In terms of architecture, The Tunnel, on the corner of St Vincent's Road and Portland Road, is quite individual, with an entrance that may have inspired its name and which appears to owe much to the arts and crafts movement.
The present owners have covered in the porch with such care to detail that only the keenest eye would be aware it was not part of the original. The design of the original leaded light windows on the (now interior) hall door has been replicated on the door and sidelight windows of the existing entrance door. The same care to detail has resulted in the creation of a garden room on the south-facing side of the house, where a lovely verandah-style alcove that links the familyroom and drawingroom, has been enclosed to create a delightful seating area. French doors open to a well-stocked flowering garden.
The Tunnel was built around 1900 by Amadeus Francis Valentine. It cost £750 to construct and was sold in 1901 for £950. Mr Valentine created a gem which the present owners have maintained to an exceptional, high standard.
The porch and hall door give way to a magnificent wood floor hallway and galleried staircase that is the central axis of the house. The hall is simply stunning - warm and welcoming, it is the perfect setting for a large Christmas tree.
Just off the hallway, but open to it, is the diningroom - oak panelled, with a lovely original green glossy brick arched fireplace and views over the garden.
Apart from the familyroom (with an imposing Victorian cast iron fireplace) and the drawingroom (with an engaging inglenook fireplace with built-in settle-style seats on either side), the downstairs also has a study-cum-office, kitchen and breakfastroom, two utility rooms and a shower room.
Upstairs there are five bedrooms - four of them doubles - and a dressing room that could be turned into another bedroom.
All the bedrooms are maintained to a high standard and three have original Victorian fireplaces. All have wonderful views, but the best is the main room with a lovely bay window, complete with French door, with a view over the south-facing side of the garden. The bathroom is a generous size and has a nice deep rolltop cast iron and enamel bath, together with shower alcove and twin wash-hand basins.
There are several outhouses attached to the house and a detached garage. The garden is mature. One lawn looks as though it may in the past have been home to a tennis court.
