The exterior of No2 Phoenix Terrace in Blackrock
The drawing room, which opens into the sitting room
The garden-level family room
2 Phoenix Terrace, Blackrock, Co Dublin
Asking price: €1.275m
Agent: Janet Carroll Estate Agent (087) 400 2020
​This Victorian terraced house was once home to Professor Robert Travers, a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons. His daughter Mary caused quite a stir when she sued Lady Jane Wilde, mother of Oscar, for libel.
Having had an affair with Oscar Wilde’s father, Sir William Wilde, in the 1860s, Mary Travers issued placards claiming that the surgeon had sexually assaulted her in his surgery after drugging her with chloroform.
Lady Wilde responded by accusing Ms Travers of extortion and claimed she was addicted to laudanum.
Victorian terrace balances classic and contemporary detail
Mary’s subsequent libel action was successful and while she was awarded only one farthing in damages, she also received costs of £2,000, a considerable sum at the time.
While opening up the living space with contemporary fittings and recessed lighting, the current owners of No2 Phoenix Terrace have also preserved the original character of the property with its high ceilings, coving and ceiling roses.
The drawing room, which opens into the sitting room
Spread over three floors, it opens into an entrance hall, off which are a drawing room, sitting room and an en suite bedroom.
The hub of the home is at garden level, with its open-plan kitchen/dining room, family room, utility, guest WC and study. The top floor is given over to two good-sized bedrooms and a family bathroom.
The garden-level family room
There’s a split-level garden to the rear of the house and if you fancy more outdoor space, residents enjoy direct access to Blackrock Park with its walking trails, lake and playgrounds. From there, it’s a short stroll to Blackrock village, Dart station and seafront.
