Number 29 Mespil Road is a blank canvas with Georgian trimmings waiting for an appreciative buyer. The basics are all there: a city location on the banks of the Grand Canal, white painted, high ceilinged rooms in a 245sq m (2,637sq ft) floor surface, original plasterwork on three floors, sash windows filling the place with light, servant bells galore and four marble fireplaces. All in good condition, prepped and awaiting an investment of TLC and money to make it a 20th-century home with period features.
Houses like this, on the Grand Canal and not in commercial use, are a rarity. Although unlived in for about four years, number 29 doesn’t have the desolate feel of some empty houses.
The long pebbled walk to the front door steps needs footfall, the kitchen/breakfastroom needs updating and enlarging, floors need repairs and recovering, the garden needs care and attention.
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Mespil Road has history. Known as Gibbet Meadow when it was on the outskirts of the city, artist Sarah Purser lived for years in Mespil House, Michael Collins had a room in number five and Percy French lived on the terrace from 1894 until 1900.
Three storied, with the wrought ironwork distinctive to the terrace across its front windows, number 29 has four bedrooms, four interconnecting reception rooms, kitchen/breakfastroom and family bathroom. Agent Savills is asking €1.475 million for the private treaty sale.
The entrance hall is resplendent with black and white floor tiling, cornicing, plaster wall panels, a brass cloak rail and fanlight over the door. It leads to the main reception rooms, both with marble fireplaces that have lovely tiled insets.
The wide sash windows have working shutters and canal views and there are double doors between them. Both are mirrored below stairs in similar reception rooms at garden level with French doors leading to the rear patio and garden.
The kitchen/breakfastroom, on the ground floor return, is a newish addition. Overall tiled in white and blue, the kitchen is galley-style, the breakfastroom something of a sunroom with glass on all sides and south facing.
Upstairs two of the bedrooms are to the rear, two to the front. The latter have fine canal views, all have high ceilings and plenty of light.
