A secret cloister set in Cork City for €825k

Vine Villa, Cork City €825k

The 19th century Vine Villa is reached by means of a discreet archway at Bishop Street

The dual-aspect drawing room has two archways to the dining room

thumbnail: The 19th century Vine Villa is reached by means of a discreet archway at Bishop Street
thumbnail: The dual-aspect drawing room has two archways to the dining room

The occupants of Vine Villa in Cork City centre are in illustrious company. The mid-19th century detached house stands in the lea of St Fin Barre's Cathedral to the east, the Crawford College of Art and Design to the north, and the Church of Ireland Bishop's Palace to the west.

And yet no one would know it's there, reached as it is by means of a discreet archway at Bishop Street. It's a rambling, 2,799 sq ft asymmetrical house, with five bedrooms and four reception rooms, all on the ground floor.

First of these is a living room, to the left of the entrance hall, with an original cast-iron fireplace, which extends into a large bay window area with double doors to the patio.

Right of the hallway is a study, also with a cast-iron fireplace.

The main reception room is a dual-aspect drawing room measuring 20ft by 15ft 8ins, with a bay window and a marble fireplace. Two archways open from the drawing room to the dining room, which has double doors to the garden.

The kitchen has a gas-fired Aga and fitted cabinets with a granite countertop, and there's a good-sized utility room with garden access, as well as a guest toilet in the hallway.

On the first floor are three bedrooms, one of which is the master, with an original fireplace, en suite shower room and a dressing room behind a sliding mirrored door.

There's a bathroom and separate shower room on this level too, while on the second floor are two more bedrooms.

Vine Villa sits on three-quarters of an acre of gardens, facing south and west. Designed by Brian Cross, the gardens feature an abundance of colourful plant life and meandering lawns. There's also a detached lofted garage on the grounds. Vine Villa is for sale with Sherry FitzGerald Cork, (021) 427 3041, with an asking price of €825,000.