Malahide gardens of rare delight

Streamstown Lane is a small meandering country road in the Auburn area of Malahide, scattered with a mixture of imposing gated residences and the odd farmhouse.

Carlim Lodge was built in 1987 by George Dennis, a retired maintenance engineer with Aer Lingus, and his wife Helen, who found inspiration for the design of their home on an old book cover in their local bookshop in Malahide.

The site which extends to 1.33 acres, was purchased from the Chadwick family who lived next door and many of the specimen trees which have grown since the 1940s were planted by the late Mrs Chadwick including a Norwegian Christmas tree and an edible chestnut.

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The house, in mock Tudor style with curved leaded windows, extends to 279sq m surrounded by superbly maintained gardens, which is one of the reasons the couple are moving on. George is about to enter his 80th year and gardens of this size require much care and attention.

“It will really suit a young couple who love their gardening,” says George of his home which includes a kitchen plot hidden behind an orange blossom. It is planted with blueberries, blackcurrants, gooseberries, an abundance of apple trees and an early plum tree in addition to vegetable beds.

In the house, an extension in 1992 added a triple-aspect breakfastroom and a further bedroom - bringing the total number of bedrooms to six.

A fine dual-aspect drawing and diningroom is off the hallway with a period marble fireplace taking centre stage.

“We bought that on Francis Street and it was in awful condition,” says George. “But we painted it with a paste made of bleach and washing powder and left it out in the frost – that’s the best way to restore marble.”

It certainly worked as the fireplace is in pristine condition 30 years after its treatment.

A further livingroom and bedroom are on the ground floor, both of which new owners will want to update.

Upstairs, in the main part of the house are four of the six bedrooms and the family bathroom.

The real selling point of this property – which new owners will want to update in parts – are the gardens.

They are filled with herbaceous borders around specimen trees and patios and there is a beautiful blue cedar just waiting for illumination at Christmas.

Carlim Lodge was put up for auction in 2002 with a €1.25 million AMV. It was later withdrawn. Now the house is on the market again, by private treaty this time, through Gallagher Quigley with an asking price of €1.45 million.