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10 Jun
A rare find has gone up for in Cork in the form of a 7 bedroom, 2 bathroom beauty of a property.
A stunning late-Georgian-Victorian family home with spectacular views over the River Lee, Elmina in Monkstown is a rare gem on the market.
The main gate at the front leads you up a winding path through mature gardens to the house, which is in an elevated position.
From there, views over the River Lee, Rushbrook, Monkstown Bay and Cork Harbour beyond can be enjoyed from the dramatic bay windows in the main reception rooms, as well as from first-floor bedrooms and balcony.
Built circa 1820 and extended circa 1865, this home has been lived in and loved for generations by just four families.
The present family have resided in the house for over fifty years.
With original period features including fireplaces, window-shutters, coving and picture rails, this property is exceptionally well preserved and a treasure-trove of architectural elements from times gone by.
The house combines generous spaciousness with a beautiful sense of homeliness and one can imagine it as it was when it was built and later extended.
The period charms of Elmina are well preserved, in part because little modernisation or alteration has been done over the years.
Real estate agents Cohalan Downing said: "words do not do justice to the beauty and elegance of Elmina, a rare gem indeed."
At the entrance to the home is an original porch with a limestone stet and original limestone step. The entrance hall is charming, still with the original hardwood floorboards.
The grand drawing room is L-shaped, with a large bay window and marble surrounding fireplace and fitted book shelving. Hand-blocked wallpaper lines the walls of the beautiful room.
In the drawing room, as well as many other of these time-capsule spaces, there are traditional picture rails, a common feature in Victorian-era homes when homeowners opted not to use nails on their walls.
The dining room cork tiled floor covering, fireplace and bay window with window seats.
The kitchen is the epitome of a period property kitchen, with traditional wood flooring and a working oil-fired AGA cooker. The attached pantry is shelved for storage.
Also downstairs is a shower room and office room.
Up the curved staircase and on the first floor are five bedrooms, a reading room, and a family bathroom.
The bedrooms have many of-the-era features, including cast iron fireplaces, marble fireplaces, and window seats.
The reading room has french doors leading to a balcony, where one can relax and take in the surrounding views of Cork harbour and the Lee.
In the attic, are two more bedrooms. One large room has panoramic views and the other has exposed beams.
There's also a basement, where the former kitchen, cellar and store room are in "relatively good order."
Renovated, they would be a valuable multi-purpose space (38sqm approx).
The basement level was disconnected from the upper floors but the stairs could be easily re-instated again, opening off the main hall.
The house is a 30-minute drive to Cork city centre and a short distance from both Cork Airport and Ringaskiddy Ferry Terminal.
It's on the market for €700,000.