Period perfection on a Dublin 8 terrace

The mezuzahs that grace all the doors of 44 Dufferin Avenue – just north of Leonard's Corner on the South Circular Road, serve as a reminder that this area was once known as Little Jerusalem.

A mezuzah is a tiny parchment inscribed with Hebrew verses from the Torah, fixed at an angle, to the right-hand side of a door architrave, in keeping with Jewish customs.

Houses on Dufferin Avenue were constructed from 1899 to 1901, and it was once considered the most prosperous middle-class street north of the South Circular Road.

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44 Dufferin Avenue, off South Circular Road, Dublin 8

Number 44 lies second on the terrace, and has been home to the same owners for the last 23 years. The couple are making a permanent move to New Zealand and have placed their 108sq m (1,162 sq ft) property on the market through agent Sherry FitzGerald with an asking price of €700,000.

Original features

The property was gutted by the current owners and 90 per cent of the exterior walls are now insulated, as is the attic. Original sash windows have been refurbished and draught proofed, allowing morning sun to fill the kitchen and evening light to warm the reception rooms.

Flooring throughout is original pine with a satin finish – now exposed for the first time and in mint condition.

The property retains all its original features, including marble fireplaces and original ceiling lampshades, which were hung when Dublin was electrified at the turn of the last century.

The cherry Shaker-style kitchen is to the rear, overlooking the garden. Featuring a double Smeg oven, Fisher and Paykel fridge and a large Villeroy and Boch Belfast sink, it has the potential to be extended as neighbours have done.

The rear garden is laid out with Indian sandstone adjacent to a raised deck for al fresco dining. The centrepiece is a wedding cake tree – Cornus controversa, which provides swathes of white margins in summer.

The highlight of the house is the master bedroom, which overlooks the quiet avenue. Complete with its original fireplace and floorboards, it is the largest room in the house, as it spans the entire width of the property.

Two further bedrooms, both of which have working fireplaces, and a small family bathroom complete the property.