THE land on which The Willows is built can be traced back three generations to William and Hannah Anderson, prominent figures in Cobh town, landowners and proprietors of a family-run butcher shop.
The Andersons lived in Seaview House, east of Mount Crozier, where Bishop St gives way to Carrignafoy Ave.
The land they owned stretched either side of Seaview House, but most of it — as well as the house — was sold off in the wake of William’s death in the late 1960s. The parcel The Willows is on was kept in the Anderson family, and a Rofab home was installed, a type of modular housing popular in the 1960s and 1970s.
The Willows faces onto Carrignafoy Avenue
The current owner’s grandmother lived at The Willows for a good many years, and it was later bequeathed by an aunt to his Cobh-born, Dublin-based parents, John and Prue Anderson, in 2003.
They redid the house and added a rear patio.
Expansive patio
You’ll be stopped in your tracks when you step through the kitchen door to the patio. Because the land drops away beyond the long, level garden, it has the same effect as an infinity pool, the visual ‘disappearing edge’ that makes it seem far closer to the harbour than it is.
The land drops away at the bottom of the garden so that the house seems closer to the water when viewed from the patio
The garden, perfectly enclosed and in great shape, was looked after by Prue for many years — she could be spotted on a ride-on lawnmower well into her 80s. The current owner, her son, John Anderson, says it was “just a field, back in the day” and a great deal of levelling was done to create the smooth lawn.
Super smooth lawn
You can see Spike Island from the house-wide patio, and the view expands the further down the garden you go, to the entire mouth of the harbour. Cruise liners pass by this time of year with great regularity.
Entrance on Carrignafoy Avenue
The three-bed house has been very well cared for. John and his South African wife, Cynthia Joseph, have looked after it in recent years.
Vintage kitchen at The Willows
They came to Ireland from Johannesburg during the pandemic and planned to spend the first two weeks quarantining at The Willows, before relocating to Dublin, where John planned to start a new IT business.
“But when Cynthia saw The Willows, she said, ‘What’s this? Why didn’t you tell me about it?’ and that was it.”
They stayed at The Willows and made various upgrades to décor and insulation.
Dining cum living room at The Willows
If new owners wished to extend the 82sq m home, they could look at incorporating a separate garage, or going up a storey, or going out front or back, with planning consent.
Selling agent Johanna Murphy, of Johanna Murphy & Sons, who is pricing it at €750,000, says the 0.42-acre site is a gem, beautifully landscaped front and back, with the unexpected bonus of harbour views to the rear.
“This house will suit an array of buyers: Retirees, due to the size; a growing family, as the house can be extended; or you could get another house on the site, subject to planning consent,” Ms Murphy says.
“And although it’s in Cobh town, you could be anywhere, it’s so peaceful and quiet. The garden is lovely, a complete oasis.”
Front garden and driveway at The Willows
The Willows is close to schools and there’s a public gym and swimming pool close by.
The railway station is a 15-minute walk and Cork Connects bus stops outside the door.
VERDICT: Unassuming home with quite the surprise out back.
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