The Georgians used to grab all the headlines when it came to period style, but the success of television series Downton Abbey has given the Edwardian era a new lease of life. Behind a high stone wall on Leopardstown Road, Lissadell does not match Downton's scale and magnificence but it has plenty of space for today's family needs.
Built in 1906, the house is set on just under half an acre, with lawns and mature trees. Inside, there is 335sq m (3,600sq ft) of space, with six bedrooms, including a large master bedroom that has a separate landing lobby and en suite for extra privacy.
The period touches include stained- glass skylights, an original marble Adam fireplace in the drawing room (the bedrooms have fireplaces, some need to be reopened), and bell pushes – though these have not worked for many years. Off the large kitchen, which has a Stanley range, there are two small rooms, formerly the housekeeper’s sitting room and butler’s pantry.
The current owners did a lot of work to restore the house after they bought it in 1986, and new owners may want to do more, because tastes in decorating come and go – though Adam fireplaces never go out of style.
Outside, there are more options too. An old coach house/stables is used for storage but could become a granny flat. In 2007 the owners got planning permission, now lapsed, for a three-storey apartment building with 12 apartments in the garden. The house is handy for schools, Foxrock golf course, Sandyford business park, the Luas and bus routes into town. A photo in the hall shows the house in its early days. From the outside, very little has changed – only the car in the picture gives the date away. The property is for sale with Sherry FitzGerald for €2.25 million.
