09-08-2025
Cream of the crop at €545k No 1 Strawberry Cottage on Lee Road?
IS it time to realise the long-time owner's wish to create a special garden to the back of the winsomely and historically accurately named 1 Strawberry Cottages, called in honour of the Sunday's Well/Shanakiel area's fame in the 18th century for strawberry beds and for other soft fruit and vegetable growing?
The Victorian home, near Thomas Davis Bridge at the start of Cork's Lee Road, has been in the same owner's hands since 1997 and 'when she saw it day one, she fell in love with it, it's got lots of character and is, in her words, 'quirky'. She loves the garden, and she had had great plans for it... but never got around to it', says estate agent Katie Fennessy of Sherry FitzGerald.
A garden in waiting at Strawberry Cottage
She's selling No 1 Strawberry Cottages now as her female vendor's plans to retire here have taken a detour and she guides the four-bed, c 950 sq ft, end-of-terrace 'cottage' at €545,000.
At €545k, it's a big step up on previous sales at the terrace: No 3 Strawberry Cottages made €280,000 back in 2020, and No 2 sold the same year for €270,000, having previously sold in 2018 for €145,000.
No 1 is in great order, cheery with bright red painted cast iron railings and hooded mouldings over the ground floor's front façade windows, against a white wall, under a reslated roof.
Inside, there's a ground floor kitchen/living/dining room, with period style fireplace in the front section, and the back window looks out on an enclosed small whitewashed yard, between a small rear ground floor bedroom and a shower room off the kitchen which gives external access to the yard space.
Access to the main/higher garden section is from a main bathroom off the stair return (there's good storage created in pull-out drawers under the stairs) and this level has three bedrooms with wood floors.
Going up and out, the gardens rise in tiers, getting more overgrown with more distance from the house, rising towards Hyde Park/Rose Hill Upper under the big homes in Shanakiel by the former private hospital: taming the outdoor space out here could, indeed, take some time.
The overall condition of No 1 Strawberry Cottages (also known as Villa Maria) is good.
Dual identity name plaque at Strawberry Cottage
It has gas central heating and a C3 BER, and the location is popular and accessible.
Agents Katie Fennessy and Ann O'Mahony say No 1 Strawberry Cottages is charming, and since Friday of last week are getting 'a good mix of interest, between first-time buyers and buyers looking to relocate closer to the city. It's a great attraction with UCC and the hospitals like the CUH, Bons, and Mercy being so close in proximity, all within a walk, as are Fitzgerald Park and the Lee Fields.'
Thomas Davis Bridge, formerly Wellington Bridge, Lee Road
Right on the doorstep is the Lee Cafe by Wellington Bridge/Thomas Davis Bridge, with indoor and outdoor seating overlooking the river.
This city end of the Lee Road is going to grow and change in profile with the imminent arrival of new homes via the Land Development Agency at the redeveloped St Kevin's hospital complex.
VERDICT: Will No 1 Strawberry Cottages get its Champagne price hopes?
