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Des Res
This prestigious home was once owned by a Wimbledon champion
Joshua Pim was his name.
AT THE END of a long and beautiful avenue in Dublin sits this stately Victorian home.
Set in the sylvan Killiney, the detached five-bedroom house has quite the interesting history.
One of its former owners was Joshua Pim, a four-time Wimbledon champion back in the 1890s.
Pim was born in 1869 in Bray (yes, he’s related to the folks behind the Pimm’s brand, despite the slightly different spelling of the name). He studied medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons and went on to become the medical officer at St Columcille’s Hospital in Loughlinstown, where he worked for 42 years.
In 1893, Pim – who was a member of the All Ireland Lawn Tennis Club – won the Wimbledon men’s singles and doubles.
Secrora, which would become his home, was built in the 1840s.
Before Pim moved in, it was occupied by TW Rolleston, who was friends with the likes of WB Yeats. Yeats is seen here in the Secrora garden:
While the home maintains so much of its original charm – think sash windows, ceiling covings, cast iron and fireplaces – it’s not a slave to its past.
The view stretches over Killiney Bay and to Bray head, with the Sugarloaf Mountain also within sight.
This is quite the impressive home, with granite steps leading to the distinctive red front doors.
Along with the sizeable garden, there’s also a vegetable patch for those who want to grow their dinner.
As an added bonus, the house is a stone’s throw away from Killiney beach, and, of course, has coastal and woodland walks nearby.
Secrora is for sale for €2.3m through Savills on Daft.ie. Read more about the home here.
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