Fix it up: Historic Horace Plunkett home in Dublin's Foxrock is hungry for a big revamp
Depending on how you look at it, the house at 4 Kilteragh Pines in Westminister Road, Foxrock, D18 is either a three-storey house or a sort of huge, multi-level 'apartment'.
Either which way, it is one-sixth (or thereabouts) of the historic home of Sir Horace Plunkett, the founder of the agricultural cooperative movement and a subject of every Irish school history book.
Tell me more...
Kilteragh Pines was attacked and burned during the War of Independence and rebuilt in 1923, when presumably it was refashioned in its current 'international modern' style and divided into six residences.
Number 4 got the original grand entrance and comes with six bedrooms, four bathrooms, a hallway, drawing room, dining room, kitchen, pantry and study area, as well as a substantial roof terrace and courtyard.
The bad news?
These days, it's quite tired and run-down and by the looks of things has not been decorated since the 1980s or thereabouts.
By the looks of the fuse box, this will definitely need a rewire and most likely, replumbing.
It will need a kitchen fit-out and complete redecoration, and possibly a new heating system.
Any other issues will be subject to a proper survey being carried out. There is an annual service charge of €2,200 per annum.
And the good news?
The service charge includes the maintenance of a substantial and very well-kept communal garden, entrance and driveway.
The house itself is large, at not much short of 3,000 sq ft, and is BER exempt. There is a separate lock-up garage and it comes with its own private lawned garden in addition to the communal space. Its orientation and generous fenestration make it a bright prospect inside.
How much to buy it?
Offers in the region of €1.275m.
And to fix it up?
If you've got pockets deep enough to bid, you've more than likely got access to the minimum of €200,000 (and up to €500,000) more required to bring this historical pad into the 21st century.
What will I end up with?
A six-bedroom home in the affluent suburb of Foxrock with both private and communal gardens.
You're also buying into some serious cultural capital too, not only with the architectural style, but also through the Plunkett history. This time machine also has connections to HG Wells and George Bernard Shaw, both of whom are said to have been visitors to Plunkett's home when he lived there.
Who should I talk to?
You can co-op Paul Aherne of DNG Stillorgan (01 283 2700) to show you around No4's very generous facilities.
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