Restored gate lodge with its own turret and touch of charm

CO WICKLOW €350,000:RE-ROOFING A TURRET was one of the more unusual renovation tasks taken on by the owner of the Gate Lodge in Woodenbridge, Co Wicklow, when he bought the pretty but dilapidated cut-stone gate lodge 12 years ago.

The house, once part of the Lord Edward FitzGerald Estate, was built in 1888 and thanks to a major restoration and renovation programme it is now a two bedroom home standing behind granite walls on half an acre of beautifully mature and well-kept gardens. At just 68sq m (732sq ft), it is both in looks and size firmly in the “bijou” category and will appeal to buyers looking for a serious helping of period charm. It is for sale through Daphne Kaye for €350,000.

Downstairs, the front door, which is set into the round tower, opens into a small hallway with a distinctive curved wall and chequerboard black and white floor tiles. The living area is one large room, with an open fireplace and a staircase tucked away in the corner.

Upstairs, there are two bedrooms, one with an en suite and both with sloping ceilings, giving a cottagey feel, and there is a fireplace in the larger bedroom. The kitchen features specially-made pine units with a Belfast sink, a range and the original black and red floor tiles.

The restoration project was a top-to-toe job and included sourcing Victorian guttering, internal doors and brass fittings, wide-plank pine floorboards and Victorian light fittings.

The gardens have been laid out with a considerable degree of thought and flair, and have a gravelled area for parking, a raised grassy area, a wooden bridge over a water feature, a patio, shrubs, trees and box hedging to add formality.

The house is accessed through the original imposing archway, emphasising the period feel, though the original mansion is long gone.

As the building was designed with such charm, Lord Edward FitzGerald’s own house must have been extraordinary. The Gate Lodge is a short walk to Woodenbridge village.

The Gate Lodge, Woodenbridge, Co Wicklow

Renovated two-bedroom cut-stone building on half an acre of mature gardens

Agent: Daphne Kaye