Period townhouse comes with bonus of private square

The modest entrance to Carlisle Avenue, off Marlborough Road, in Donnybrook, Dublin 4, gives no indication that the avenue is in fact a pretty square. There are 17 period houses fronting on to a private garden square which is owned by the residents.

The houses rarely come up for public sale, although some have changed hands privately. There have been only two on the market in the past five years, the most recent sold for £560,000 last year. Number 7 is now for sale through Lisney on October 10th with a guide price of £575,000. While Marlborough Road has become a bit of a rat-run over the years because it links Ranelagh and Donnybrook, Carlisle Avenue is very private. It is also very quiet, with attractive looking, well kept houses.

There are two good-sized reception rooms and while there is a door frame between them, there are no interconnecting doors. The front room has its original marble fireplace but the one in the back room is missing.

Down two steps from the back reception room is the eat-in kitchen, which runs the width of the back of the house. It is a recent extension with built-in units on one side and a dining area on the other. Access to the back garden is via double doors in the dining area. Off the kitchen area is a small utility room.

Upstairs, there are four bedrooms - two singles and two doubles. The first single is on the return and is currently being used as a home office. The back double is the largest bedroom and it is used as the main bedroom. The two remaining bedrooms are at the front of the house. The bathroom is up another short flight of stairs. It is small and slightly dated with an avocado coloured suite.

There is a railed garden to the front and a smaller garden at the back. It is very much a town garden, with its raised beds and water feature. While small gardens can be off-putting for house-buyers looking for a family home, the house does come with the tremendous bonus of a key to the private square which is full of mature trees and shrubs. While the house itself is attractive and in good condition, it's the square that will sell this house.