Bray: €875,000With a quirky interior and a glorious back garden, Claragh on Vevay Road, Bray, Co Wicklow is a Victorian four-bed house with a lot going for it. Detached and sheltered by evergreens it sits on its own at the end of Bray's high street.
It's for sale through McDonnall Properties at €875,000. There since 1895, Claragh is unique and alone because its builder intended it as a showpiece for his ornate plasterwork. This and other period features - a hallway arch, panelled doors, windows, shutters, floorboards and fireplaces - have been much appreciated by the vendor who, over the last five years, has upgraded Claragh and made a decorating statement of its quirky character and original features.
Claragh, said to have been named after the builder's wife, has two stories over garden level; unless you count the returns which, given its singular layout, bring the count to six levels. Over 167sq m (1,800sq ft), there are three reception rooms, a big eat-in kitchen and a conservatory.
A flight of wide, granite steps lead to the front door. The garden level has a separate entrance. The vendor has seamlessly extended a garden level livingroom and added a picture window from which to view the garden. The drawing and dining rooms, off the ground floor hallway, are quintessentially Victorian.
The diningroom is filled with light from windows to the side and front, one with sea views and the other overlooking Bray's main street. These rooms have original fireplaces and floorboards. Three bedrooms off the top landing have a cottage feel and all have views, some of mountains, some of the sea and some of both.
