An attractive gate lodge at the entrance to Proby Park, a newish development off Barnhill Road in Dalkey, is the first indication that, at the end of the drive, past the new builds, is a fine period house. Proby Park House dates from the mid-1800s, when it was a large holiday estate just outside the village and set on four acres.

It was owned in more recent years by a builder, who took away some of the back garden and built two bungalows and developed the land at its entrance. So when the current owners bought the house about 20 years ago it was on just over half an acre of mature gardens, which give it a great deal of privacy.

It is an impressive house with interesting period features, from fireplaces and decorative plasterwork inside to granite walls and a statue of a unicorn on the roof outside.

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The first owner must have been keen on horses, as the entrance steps have an unusual extra step to aid a rider to hop up on to a horse.

The property is due for auction by Lisney on June 25th with an AMV of €2 million.

One room deep

While undeniably grand, the house is not as large as it looks and, as all the bedrooms are on one level – unusual in many houses of the period – it is a comfortable family home. At 400sq m (4,305sq ft), it is just one room deep, so the fine reception rooms on either side of the hall have large sash windows to the front and back.

A lovely feature is the original Victorian conservatory to the side – there is a door into it from the livingroom. The owners, who did work on the house when they moved in, reorganised many rooms in the large two-storey back return so that at hall level there is a large, eat-in kitchen that opens into an informal family room. There is also a study, side porch, guest toilet and utility room.

The five double bedrooms are upstairs, and all have high ceilings and good proportions.

There were six bedrooms but the owners converted one into a luxurious family bathroom with a freestanding bath.

The main bedroom has a dressingroom and a bathroom en suite. One of the owners is an artist and there is also a bright studio at this level.

The decor throughout is smart and in keeping with the style of the house.

The owners refurbished a gardener’s cottage attached to the rear of the return into a one-bedroom rental. There is also a detached garage with a loft that could be converted.