A house ‘from a good family’

THE chronology and joys of family life are catalogued on the walls of this house, at Almorah Villas, on Spy Hill, Cobh.

A clutch of kids filled this big semi to the brim and the feeling of happy home life remains — it’s that kind of house. The Victorian was built in 1835, reputedly for a German princess, and was occupied by the American envoy to Cork during that country’s civil war.

It was the Loane family of jewellers who lived here for the longest period — they occupied the house from 1869 to 1969, when it was purchased by its present owners. Now with their children in middle age, and with adult grandchildren, the owners are selling, after due consideration.

Where is the point in keeping a big house just for two, maintaining a half-acre of garden, not to mind hoovering, painting and decorating when one’s needs have changed? So, the prospect of tidy, easy-to-keep bungalow beckons, and Liz Hannon, of English Auctioneers, is looking for offers of €585,000 for this big, rambling house.

There isn’t a sniff of damp in it, and every surface gleams, with a lot of antique furniture rescued and restored by the owners themselves.

And while it’s big, it’s not pretentious, with slightly larger-than-average room sizes and those high ceilings.

Almorah Villas has a timeless quality, (this is Cobh, after all), and living in this row, on Spy Hill, you have the waters of Cork harbour as a constant backdrop and the bells of the cathedral to mark the passing of the hour.

It’s in an elegant, sunny and high position, but it’s just a zip down the road to Cork city — 20 twenty minutes in moderate traffic.

It’s hard to describe the accommodation here, because it has the standard, double-fronted layout at ground-floor level, with living rooms flanking the front door and entrance porch, and an add-on conservatory to the west looking onto the tiered and immaculate garden.

Behind, there’s a little study and bathroom and then an unreconstructed kitchen and dining room with a range of original features, including a servant’s back stairs.

The upper-level, facing front, has three bedrooms and a main bathroom, but there’s a split-level with a long return running back into the hill and providing three more bedrooms with living room and kitchen. This could function as a separate apartment, and, indeed, has its own access and little sunroom from the side, so the house may suit multi-generational occupancy.

It’s quaint, unpredictable, but also warm and well-kept, and this house is going to suit a certain type of buyer.

It will be someone for whom these homes, with their patina of age, their grandeur and large sites, hold a draw and for whom the prospect of bringing them into a new century brings no fears.

And, the big old house would welcome it — it’s as if it needs to be filled full of family life again, and is waiting.