House of the week

More Grimm Brothers Fairytales than grim in style is the Gatelodge — and its gardens — at the former Wicklow estate of Lord Edward Fitzgerald.

That family ownership links it squarely, albeit modestly, to the great estates of the Dukes of Leinster and the likes of Carlton House, as well as the Fitzgerald family’s summer residence of Frascati House in Dublin’s Blackrock.

Now, it’s quite possible that a ‘Leinster Fitzgerald’ never even set a foot inside this picturesque gatelodge at any time in its long past, although it is now at least owned by a Fitzgerald. It’s been made over by owner, Limerick-born ‘hairdresser to the stars,’ Aidan Fitzgerald, who has a salon in Blackrock, and regular TV appearances on fashion and make-over programmes.

Now, having done his makeover on this romantic-looking Wicklow gatelodge, it is up for sale, on the market with agent Daphne L Kaye, who guides it at €350,000.

The only surprise, possibly, is the expertly re-slated roof — surely a hairdresser of note could have chanced a bit of thatch on top, and some creative cutting a-la Edward Scissorhands?!

The original Fitzgerald granite crest at the centre of the archway had been removed, and so a replica was made by artist James Murphy, one of a team of specialists who went on to have a role in the gate lodge’s rebirth, ranging from skilled craftsmen to seasoned finishers.

Its joists, ceilings, floors and roof have all been replaced, and the turret’s conical roof was also reslated. The stone walls are two-foot thick, and heating is electric.

Windows (leaded) and the main door were replaced, by Richmonds shop fitters, brass locks came from James Healy & Sons, brass door handles and period-appropriate light fittings came from Michael Conlon Antiques, while Adams of Blackrock were the source of the period furniture, and continuing the roll-call, Deckclad Architectural Salvage provided antique pine floors and Victorian garden lights.

Rooms include a dual aspect living room/dining room, a kitchen with old tiled floor and Belfast sink, plus range cooker, and two characterful, ceiling-beamed bedrooms, with one of them en suite, where that bathroom is circular in shape complete with a circular antique shower enclosure. The living room’s fireplace, and that of the bedroom above, were fashioned from beams and bricks from old Dublin hospitals, via Mac’s Warehouse who also supplied internal doors and Victorian guttering outside.

Outdoors also, appropriate garden design was by Jim Doolin RHA, and Arklow’s Micheal Enright carried out the landscaping with lots of attention paid to granite walls, walks, paths, and more.

The rear’s quite private, with circular graveled area for car parking, and the boundaries are a mix of granite walls and wrought iron railings, with tall wrought iron entrance gates. There’s also clipped lawns and box hedging, herbaceous borders, rockery, specimen trees are highlighted (the entire backdrop is wooded) and there’s an ornamental wooden bridge from the parking area to the sunny graveled back terrace.

Location is the midst of the Garden County, in the Vale of Avoca and near the Aughrim, within a walk of Woodenbridge village and its two hotels, one of which is reputed to be one of the oldest in Ireland, at over 400 years of age. The gate lodge is also near (and overlooking) the 18-hole Woodenbridge golf course.

VERDICT: Ideal for nature lovers, and for the romantic at heart.