RathgarKate McMorrow visits a well-maintained Victorian house with an interesting history

An elegant mid-Victorian house on Garville Avenue, Rathgar is guiding €1.6 million prior to auction on October 1st. HOK Residential is the selling agent for this 195 sq m (2,100 sq ft) four-bedroom house, which has all the fine architectural features of its era.

In excellent condition and softly decorated, Heyford at number 25 Garville Avenue was constructed in 1860 by builder Roberts Sykes for his own use. A later resident was William Thom who first published the invaluable Thom's Dublin Street Directory.

The current owner, who has lived in the house since 1939, is reluctantly downsizing to smaller accommodation in the area. Heyford is set well back from the road with a gravel drive and lawns. A pair of 200-year-old beech trees stand either side of the entrance gates.

The original heavy front door opens to a decorative hallway richly-hued in Marrakesh red.

Off to the right is a spacious drawingroom, linked by double doors to a formal diningroom. Both rooms are painted pale grey and white, with a wide front bay window creating plenty of natural light.

Windows throughout the house have original sashes and working shutters.

Both the drawing and diningrooms have period fireplaces, the former in marble and there is an unusual decorative iron model in the diningroom. Ceiling plasterwork is magnificent.

Across the hall is a small study with pitch pine floorboards. The working end of the house is down a few steps at the back of the house.

Here, a breakfastroom with ceiling beams and an exposed granite inglenook leads to a galley kitchen.

Also off the breakfastorom is a sunroom with original flagstones, opening to a pretty terrace. The mahogany-railed staircase is lit by a tall arched window on the half landing.

Three bedrooms are good-sized doubles and there is one single room. Cast-iron fireplaces have been retained in the three larger rooms and the main bedroom at the back has extensive built-in wardrobes. Polished floorboards, a claw-foot bath and an ornate iron-framed sink give the family bathroom a period feel.

Good gardens are a feature of larger period houses and the walled back garden at number 25 is no exception.

There is a large flagged terrace framed by a clematis-covered trellis, a pergola smothered with climbers, rockeries, flower borders and a hidden garden to the rear with an old apple tree.