The Cottage a slice of country-style living in the city

QUIRKY, not so petite as you’d think, and definitely one to look around — that’s auctioneer Tim Sullivan’s verdict on The Cottage, a slice of country-style living in the heart of Cork’s old suburbs.

The Cottage is a roadside three-bedroomed home on the edge of Crab Lane, which connects the city end of the Blackrock Road with the Boreenmanna Road, within an acceptable walk of the city centre. Originally a coachhouse, it possibly was part of the grounds of a nearby very fine period home whose grounds indeed included an apple orchard — hence the Crab Lane name.

A new market offering, after decades in the same ownership, this 900 sq ft-plus T-shaped house is deceptive in the extreme, with lots it its favour — its main lack is probably the fact it doesn’t have gardens, just a paved courtyard, plus a second wholly enclosed back yard.

With its €265,000 asking price, it could suit a mix of buyers — either a single person, a couple, or a trader down, given that all of its accommodation is on the one level, and there’s off-street parking and an attached garage whose floor area isn’t added to the house’s living space.

Internally, it’s on the dated side but has more than a touch of quality to it yet, and so any buyer will probably spend a bit on doing up the kitchen, for example, on insulation and putting in double glazing, while natural gas central heating is already in place.

Its three bedrooms (one en suite) are along the roadside of Crab Lane and the main, good-sized 21’ by 12’ sitting/dining room is off to the back, with an adjacent kitchenette. The main living space has a gas fire and a deep, double-glazed bay window, with double doors to the larger of the two enclosed yards: while this outdoor space might seem chilly now, in summer it could be positively balmy.

The Cottage holds promise disproportionate to its size.