Coole address makes property with swimming pool a prized asset

HOUSES may be getting bigger, but sites are getting smaller: some notable million euro examples in Cork city have no side entrance to their rear gardens at all.

Which makes Coole Lodge, Barnstead, in Cork's Blackrock suburb a very desirable property indeed. Not only does it have more than a half acre of gardens, it also has one of the better addresses in Cork city, sandwiched between Menloe Gardens and Church Road.

And it even has its own swimming pool. The pool area is part of a dog-leg of garden that runs behind two rows of houses in Menloe and Barnstead and which, on site value alone, could be worth well in excess of €500,000.

The remainder of the gardens are laid out in mature and well tended beds with some really old climbers around the house. The grounds are immaculately maintained and are a perfect backdrop to the house.

The detached house has plenty of space to offer buyers and hits the higher end of the market with its guide of €1.3 million, through Malcolm Tyrrell of Cohalan Downing and Associates.

And while Coole Lodge will need modernisation, it's bright, dry and warm with a huge double garage to the front. The temptation could be to convert it into extra rooms, but that would be a shame..

The kitchen is dated and will need an overhaul, but it has access to its own side garden, allowing it to be extended, if necessary.

The rest of the ground floor includes a study looking west over the garden which is shaded by a pergola. There's also a guest bathroom and another toilet in the double garage. Upstairs, there are four, double bedrooms, with en suite master and a main bathroom. Each room has a different aspect and the staircase has wrought iron banisters and the original light switches.