Rare buying opportunity

REFINED Victorian living in the wonderful, lower harbour area of county Cork can be had at a fraction of town prices.

Ivy House, with a very affordable €400,000 guide, is a period property on the main street of the pretty village of Whitegate. More importantly, it comes in very good condition and offers plenty of original features, along with comfortable, modern accommodation.

In fact, the house is more than ready to move into, says John Hornibrook of Sherry FitzGerald O’Donovan, and it comes with a private rear patio and gardens.

Facing onto the village, Ivy House has Georgian features with its deep windows and simple doorcase.

It comes with three bedrooms, all of which are en suite, and there are views over Cork harbour from most of the rooms.

High ceilings, good fireplaces and a country-style kitchen are other features, and the main bathroom goes the whole hog with a cast iron bath and Victorian fittings.

Reception rooms are a good size: the lounge of 14’ by 18’ comes with ceiling coving, wooden floors and an original slate and cast-iron fireplace. The dining room on the opposite side is similar and comes with an original fireplace, too.

Fitted in oak, the kitchen/ diner runs to 19’ by 11’ and includes a cast iron stove and brick firebreast along with a row of modern units and integrated appliances.

A utility and guest bathroom make up the remainder of the rooms on the ground floor. Overhead, there’s the master bedroom with a full bathroom and dressing room en suite, two more en suite rooms and a small study.

Built in the 1860s, the house has been lovingly maintained, says Hornibrook, and has double-glazed windows and gas heating.