Alton Cottage, at 106 Sorrento Road, is on Dalkey’s so-called golden mile, the route that links the village to Vico Road – and, as on Coliemore Road, homes here span a range from €800,000 to €8 million. That’s according to Nick Crawford, the selling agent who has put this one-bedroom house on the market seeking €495,000.
Dalkey’s star power is well documented. It was from across the road that Maeve Binchy wrote about village life, and Hollywood actors from Matt Damon, in 2020, to Patrick Dempsey (aka Dr McDreamy), this summer, have been seduced by its charms.
Alton Cottage might be the most affordable listing on one of the country’s prime residential streets. It is within falling-home distance of Finnegans and the village’s other bars, cafes and restaurants, so there’s no need for a car. This is probably a good thing, as there are double yellow lines outside – although you could apply for on-street disc parking.
A probate sale, this home was owned by an art teacher and book illustrator who appreciated its well-proportioned rooms and sunny aspect; it has a south-facing back garden.
It is its quirkiness that Crawford says will appeal. “Just like an art collection in which every piece is different, every house on Sorrento Road is different. Each has its own story, and that’s what makes Alton Cottage interesting.”
Although the 75sq m (807sq ft) property has a chilly E2 building energy rating, it has gas-fired central heating, and the honey-coloured floorboards downstairs could form the basis of a new look.
Both the square, book-lined sitting room (which provides 16sq m of the cottage’s floor space) and the slightly larger dining room to the rear have high ceilings. Off the dining room is a scullery-sized kitchen of just 5sq m: the next owner will probably want to combine these two spaces and open them out to the garden. There’s also a full-size bathroom downstairs.
Upstairs is an attic room that is used as a bedroom. Featuring a rooflight, it leads through to an en-suite shower.
Crawford says you could live in the cottage as it is and do work on it as you go. With an insulation upgrade, it could be a lovely home for a couple.
That south-facing back garden looks out to a small green, beyond which is the car park beside Dalkey Dart station. You will hear the trains, but only as background noise.
