Dublin 6: A large and well-loved period family home with a prestigious address comes on the market this week. Number 3 Highfield Road, Rathgar, Dublin 6 will be auctioned on October 30 with Douglas Newman Good guiding €1.8m.

Built in 1885, the house has been lived in by the same family for the past 40 years. The vendors, who are now moving to a smaller house nearby, have had plenty of space to rear their own large family and have since welcomed back the grandchildren to stay and play in their turn in the sunny south-facing garden.

Highfield Road, which links Rathgar village to Dartry and Upper Rathmines, is a most sought after location. Number 3, situated at the Rathmines end of Highfield Road, is a short walk to local shops, on several bus routes and convenient to some excellent south Dublin schools.

Many period features, including ceiling covings, oak parquet floors, original windows and doors, are intact. With 278 sq m (3,000 sq ft) of accommodation spread over three floors, there are three reception rooms, five bedrooms and two bathrooms, with a lower ground floor ripe for a sunny refurbishment.

The house is built in mellow redbrick faced in stone. Steps lead up to the hall door which is framed in stained glass. A fine drawingroom has a high ceiling with centre rose, and a handsome marble mantelpiece and hearth.

The raised antique brass framed grate has a coal-effect gas fire. A large bay sash window was recently draught-proofed.

The diningroom has another good-looking marble fireplace with floral side tiles and coal- effect gas fire. A family room has three walls panelled in mahogany and fitted bookshelves with mirrored insets on either side of the fireplace.

This room opens into a small timber-framed sunroom with easy chairs and a door to the rear patio.

Steps lead from the hall to the lower ground floor which accommodates a kitchen with walk-in larder, toilet, laundry room, store room with rear garden access, and a utility lobby with a door to the front of the house.

Opening up this space to create a large kitchen/living area is an obvious and attractive option. And new owners might consider replacing the current sunroom with a larger Victorian-style conservatory in keeping with the old walled rear garden.

The stairs climbs up to a mid- landing lit by a large window and currently furnished with a chaise longue. This area could become a study or open home office area. To the right is a good-sized double bedroom with built-in wardrobes and wash-hand basin set into a vanity unit.

The large family bathroom on this return needs updating and there is plenty of space for a smart revamp.

The main bedroom on the first floor has its own dressingroom and en suite shower room. Another good-sized bedroom on this floor has extensive built-in wardrobes and wash-hand basins.

There are two further bedrooms on the second floor return separated from each other by a room currently used as a home office. Converting this into a shower room and connecting it to the bedroom on either side would make this a self-sufficient landing.

The house is recessed from the main road and has space for four cars on the gravelled front drive. The front garden is set in lawn with mature hedging, trees and shrubs. The rear south-facing old walled garden is completely private. It has a wide patio area and built in barbecue.

A flagged path runs down the side of the lawn and the boundary wall features a snake-barked maple tree.