Permanent way to restore a grand period villa

Tommy Barker says restored Bellevue Villas home is on the right track.

IF you thought electronic access gates were the height of sophistication (or snobbery) think again: how about your own manned level crossing for exclusive controlled access?

That’s exactly what the residents of the three Bellevue Villas terrace of home have between them and the busy world passing by outside.

Irish Rail man the crossing, paying two wages for gate-keepers, though there’s a plan for an even more costly flyover for this terrace, to facilitate the long-heralded Cork-Midleton commuter rail service. Verily, over the course of almost two centuries, houses like Bellevue Villas have seen it all come, and go, and come again.

The ‘villas,’ in effect very large townhouses which date to Cork’s prosperous Quaker business family past, are now in a private city woodland eyerie, with entrancing views of passing cars, boats and trains.

Set just back off the main Cobh (and soon to be Midleton?) rail line is this terrace of 19th century built beauties, one of the most intact terraces of Georgian homes in Cork (its dates are variously put at early 19th century, or 1845, which pitches it into the Victorian era though its style precedes Victoriana.

Dripping in finery and authenticity is no 3, the last to be restored, and an ongoing labour of love for its owners (a media couple returned from the UK) since 2000.

They’ve only latterly re-roofed it, at a cost of over €70,000, with certified Blue Bangor slates used throughout, and along the roof now in front are three sleek black steel roof-lights in place of Velux windows which had been put in by previous owners. The skylights alone were £2,000 a-piece: truly, conserving properties of this pedigree is an expensive business.

But, the good news for whoever is next in the door is that the place is gleaming, pristine, and properly done, with works overseen by Cork City Conservation Architect, the highly-regarded and practical Pat Ruane, so there shouldn’t be any costly shocks for some time.

All three houses have been brought back to a very high level of comfort, and no 3 has 4,500 sq ft with accommodation on three fine levels over-basement, with top floor attic rooms as well as a crowning glory. Those three principal floors are heavy with architectural integrity, detailed cornice work and ceiling roses adorning 11’ ceilings, joinery is as new, sashes and shutters all work, floors have the patina of age, but no signs of the stresses, and radiators now for the gas-fired heating and creature comforts are salvage or Victorian reproductions.

In fact, there’s more rooms and space than most families could find names or practical reasons for. That’s why some will appreciate the fact the basement of no 3 can be used as a self-contained apartment, and there’s a huge old cast iron range in the former old kitchen, now just for decorative purposes. Original flagstones are beneath the recently-installed wood floors and out to the back is a walled in yard, with rock face garden, a mere abseil away from Montenotte which hover above the red sandstone cliffs.

Formal rooms here are just that, absolutely drop-dead gorgeous spaces with inter-connecting rooms on the entry level with compact kitchen behind, while the first floor’s main drawing room is big enough for a ball.

To the back, at this level and the next, are fine bedrooms with high ceilinged en suite bathrooms in a rear annex, and the second floor front bedroom (with further bedroom, dressing room or nursery alongside has some of the house’s very best river views, over to two rowing clubs and the Marina, with Cork city itself and its silo and steepled-silhouettes less than a mile upriver. The river traffic means you’ll never be bored, and barely ever hear or notice the trains passing.

The gardens at Bellvue Villas are a delight, concealing the car parking spaces, and planting spans an appropriate range and includes Camellias, Chinese lantern, Myrtle, Red Hawthorn, Agapanthus Cherry and Laburnum and more. While there’s a communal feel to them, the fact no 3 is last in the terrace gives privacy to its own section of ground.

Estate agents Ann O’Mahony and Michael O’Donovan of Sherry FitzGerald seek offers at €2 million for what they say is a very rare and unusual offering. Likely buyers may include relocaters, looking for period authenticity and a special Cork niche, and local professionals who hanker after a taste of the (very) good life.