It’s reassuring that even top agents when buying property can go against their own advice: not to be guided by your heart. In the 1980s, when one of the busiest agents in the country, the late Hugh Hamilton – his last major transaction was selling Farmleigh to the State – and his wife, Clare, were considering a move from Wicklow to Dublin to be near schools and the city centre for their growing family, they bought Mount Salem.

This, despite Hugh’s alarm at the very poor condition of the charming looking property – they couldn’t even view all its rooms; the fact that it had fewer bedrooms than the house they were leaving; and it had a cattle grid (now gone) at the entrance to prevent the horse grazing on the grounds escaping.

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The latter feature, according to Clare, who is now selling, was a particular annoyance for him but still they bought the villa-style property and set about a major renovation programme.

Built in 1837, the 380sq m house is single storey to the front and two storey to the rear, over a part raised basement and with an impressive front door topped with a fanlight and sidelights. Inside there is a pleasing symmetry to the layout with two reception rooms to the front on either side of the hall – each with two sash windows – and three bedrooms, one with a large en suite and the family bathroom up a half flight of stairs and all to the rear.

Ceiling height

Downstairs – where it was once remarked that the ceilings were so low only very short maids were employed – there are several store rooms to the front, and at the rear where the renovation included digging down to improve the ceiling height there is a fourth bedroom, living room, opening into a conservatory, study and kitchen. It has all the feel of a country house, and certainly not a property on the busy corner of Leopardstown Road and the N11.

The house is surrounded by beautiful gardens and it is its site that raises the possibility of development. The house sits on 0.2 of an acre and there is a half-acre of woodland gardens to the front facing on to the N11, which the selling agent Robert Colleran suggests could take six houses. That is subject to planning permission.

Mount Salem is not just protected as might be expected of such a fine old house, it is on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage where it is described as “an integral component of the domestic built heritage of south County Dublin”.

The owner is downsizing to the converted stables adjacent to the house, which shares its driveway and overlooks the rear gardens of the main house.

Robert Colleran Property Consultants is the agent selling Mount Salem, seeking €2.5 million.