Verelands,
Garden Vale,
Athlone,
County Westmeath,
N37Y0Y5
Price - € 850,000
An early advertisement for Verelands dating from 1926 describes the house as a beautiful residence, with six bedrooms and four further servant's rooms. The advert also notes a drawing room, dining room and conservatory, as well as hot and cold water, a great luxury in those days.
Verelands was built in 1896 and is a classic double-fronted Victorian villa, set in a terrace on a quiet, yet hugely convenient Athlone street. The property abounds in many Victorian features, most notably gorgeous bay windows, which affords Verelands four particularly sunny spots.
After an extensive and lavish refurbishment, Verelands retains many of its original features, including fan light, sash windows, stained glass detailing, decorative tile work, ceiling roses and a very elegant solid-wood staircase with carved bannisters.
Today, those original six bedrooms plus servant’s quarters have been completely reimagined to give four large bedrooms, including a very beautiful master suite, and a pair of truly elegant, yet relaxing reception rooms at entry level.
The refurbishment, which took place in the early years of the 2000s, added a separate office suite at garden level. This has own-door access, although it can also be reached from inside the house. The current owners use the pair of offices as consulting rooms, but great care was taken in the design to ensure that these can be reintegrated into Verelands should you require more living space.
This lovely and graceful property offers you the perfect space for working from home, and the best of both worlds in terms of flexibility as needs change with time.
Internally, the bright hallway opens to a pair of fine reception rooms to either side, accessed via double doors. The large drawing room has a bay window, remote control gas fire with marble surround, and French windows to a raised patio which in turn brings you to the gardens.
Running from front to back, this space receives wonderful light, although you can close the doors and find it cosy for evenings by the fire.
Opposite, the dining room is another bright space, again with a bay window, decorative plasterwork and fireplace. Behind this is a store, wc and to the rear of the house, a generous dual aspect study.
At garden level, there is a cool modern kitchen with marble counter tops and splash backs and a built in Aga. This opens to a living room with French windows to another patio, and on to the gardens. There is a large laundry room here too. Then find a reception space with its own WC, and a pair of offices that have their own external access to the front of the house.
The office suite can also be reached from within the house. This hugely flexible arrangement gives you live-work space, or the option of a separate apartment for an au-pair, staff flat, extended family or to generate additional income.
The four bedrooms are all generous in size. The master has a large en-suite, and dressing room, which would originally have been a the fifth and sixth bedroom. Again, the matching bay windows make the rooms at the front of the house particularly lovely.
Grounds and Facilities
Sheltered by a high hedge, Verelands is both imposing and welcoming. There are patio areas surrounded by planting to the front of the house, giving you privacy from Garden Vale. A laneway to the side of the terrace leads you to your own private off-street parking that can easily accommodate three cars. This is protected by remote controlled gates.
This gravelled area, with its own turning circle, divides the patio areas, one at entrance level, and one at garden level, from the mature gardens that follow on.
The lower patio has a built-in retractable awning so you can enjoy it in sun and shade too. There is a row of charming garden sheds, a lawn, and sensitive planting that is a mix of the formal and the abundant. Low brick walls break up the space and contain the beds, while the stone-flagged patios are hugely inviting spots. Verelands and its gardens make for a marvellously restored oasis in the heart of Athlone, itself in the very heart of Ireland.
Location
Extremely convenient, Garden Vale is just a short stroll from the centre of Athlone.
Athlone is incredibly well served and well located. On the banks of the River Shannon and the shores of Lough Ree, it is a beloved spot for those who enjoy a range of outdoor activities. It is also convenient to Dublin and Galway, meaning this thriving town is a great choice, and has been picked as the location for a number of large and successful multinational companies.
Agent for this Sherry Fitzgerald O'Meara property is Dermot O’Meara who can be contacted on 085-2551082.
