Ballymore Villa

The front gives the only clear view of the L-shape of the house.

People whose first approach to the house is via the conservatory or the back door tend to get startled by the magical "extra rooms" in the south-running arm of the L.

The Hall is 5' wide and runs 15'4" to the back door.
We keep a freezer under the stairs and there's still plenty of room for storage and hanging space under there.
One double socket.

There are 12 stair steps. One of the things we never got around to was to use the faces for some graphics related to the months of the year.

Turn left for the Living room.
This is 12'6" by 15'. The internal wall is 20" thick.
Three double sockets.
The fireplace works. The file surround is original cast-iron. The chimney was relined with clay pots in 1986.
The door in the opposite corner leads to the conservatory.

The conservatory is at an angle to the gable. It's 20' at the front and 16' at the back. It's 12' wide. It's big and airy.
There are double doors leading into the garden.

The views from the conservatory are concentrated on the garden and the woods. The high gable faces West and we often get spectacular twilights and sunsets.

We use the conservatory as living space for all but perhaps the two coldest months of Winter. Even then a sunny day will bring us out there, no matter how cold outside.
There are four double sockets spread around the large floor area.
There are overhead lights but we prefer candles at night. When we do entertain out there during winter nights, we just plug in two electric heaters for a few hours. It doesn't take much to heat it as the floor slab and the 27" thick house gable form an excellent natural heat store for natural solar gain accumulated during the day.

There are views of the harbour from the end of the conservatory, but there are better views available from seating in the garden. However, it can be useful to get a quick view of the sea state and to do a visual check of the boat on the mooring after a stormy night - without having to venture out into cold or damp parts of the world.

The houses that you can see across the harbour in the picture are part of Crosshaven village - home to the Royal Cork Yacht Club, Cork Week, and some people.

Back through the Living Room and Hall, we come to the Kitchen/Diner.
This is 15'3" by 12'6".

We use the round table in the corner for informal meals. Otherwise we eat in the conservatory or the dining room - or at the garden table, which is a very well sheltered suntrap.

The solid-fuel stove set in the stone-arched fireplace heats domestic water and radiators. The glow through the glass door is Weetabix for the soul on a winter's morning. We burn anthracite in this durng the Winter and burn it very slowly to give a constant gentle heat 24 hours a day. In other seasons, when there's a chill in the air or the soul needs a lift, we burn some wood.

The stonework is exposed on two walls.

We put in new kitchen units recently. The hob is a 5-burner gas unit, with an extractor hood above. The built-in oven is electric.

Six double sockets. One single socket.

Through the kitchen is the dining room. This is 11'6" by 15'5".
The label "dining room" is a shade misleading as we mostly eat at the kitchen table or in the conservatory. It only becomes "dining room" for formal winter entertaining. In this case, a gate-lagged table swings into action - with extensions if needs be for a major party.
Its normal function is that of an extra living room - one end being a study/work area and the other end being used for quiet reading/listening by the fire if the main living room is busy.

The fireplace works. The chimney was relined with clay pots in 1986. The mantlepiece over the fire was cut from a pine beam washed up on the beach. The ash-pit under the grate is enormous so we can burn fires for months without having to clean it out. .

In older times (as in up to about the 1940s) this room was always used as a bedroom. I've had correspondence from someone who was born is this room. No doubt many others were born here too over the 200-odd years.

The internal wall is 24" thick and its stonework is exposed. This room and the room above appear to have been built on to an pre-existing building during the 1820's. I tell people that they are looking at stonework put up when Napoleon Bonaparte was in short trousers. If challenged to prove that the wall was built in the 1700's, I say that there are no records but anyway Napoleon wore short trousers all his life, so I'm still right. There's no way he could stuff long trousers into those boots.

Three double sockets.

At the top of the stairs, there's a nice place to contemplate the woods at the back. I've stood there resting my arms on the cill in the dawning hours and watched foxes and badgers.
This is a favourite dallying place in early morning and late evening. Short of going into the woods, the dawn (and all-day-into-evening) chorus is loudest here.
What with that and the sound of the wind in the leaves, whatever errands sparked the use of the stairs can sometimes get forgotten.

To the right of the landing is a childrens bedroom. This is 15'10 x 12' 10". The picture shows the bed under the slope to the rear. There is built-in storage on the left of the picture ( 60 cu.ft), and a walk-in cupboard on the right ( 100 cu.ft.).

Three double sockets.

Through the door on the left of the landing is a 8'6 x 12' enclosed area which rejoices in the appellation, "the dressing room". This has two built-in hanging and storage spaces totalling 130 cu.ft.
One double socket.

The dressing room has further doors to a small bedroom, the bathroom and the main bedroom. This and the 3 rooms off it can be thought of a large constantly-warm ensuite area.

The small bedroom is 6'5" x 6'6". This is a bit like a ship's cabin, with a built-in bed, underbed drawers, shelves over the bed, and floor to ceiling shelving on the free wall.

This is a wonderful indoor place in which to relax and listen to birdsong. In early morning, open the windowa crack or a lot. The dawn chorus can set you up for the day - a sort of meditation.

One double socket.

Beside that is the bathroom. This is 6'5" x 6'6". There is an electric pumped shower over the bath.
We did have the small bedroom and the current bathroom as a single large bathroom at one stage.

The bath is an old cast-iron one with clawed feet. The feet have been removed and the bath rests at floor level to allow full standing room for the shower.

Across the dressing room is the main bedroom. This is 15'5" x 11' 6".
There is built-in hanging and storage space on either side ( total 230 cu.ft.) as you enter.

Two double sockets.