Sean Connery’s former Bray house is on the market for €1.495 million

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The Bond star’s former home has plenty of unusual features, and was reportedly the site of some excellent parties. 

Violet Hill House sits just off Herbert Road in Bray, an unusual neo-gothic mansion that was built in the 1860s by renowned Irish architect William Fogerty. It will attract attention, however, not just for its details like Turkish-style arches and carved staircase. This home also used to be the residence of Sean Connery.

The Bond star lived here in the seventies, as he was working on sci-fi film Zardoz, as well as First Great Train Robbery, both of which were made in Bray’s Ardmore Studios. Parties he hosted there for fellow actors such as Peter Sellers and Alistair MacLean had quite the reputation.

The house itself is a protected structure, and sits on 3.3 acres of land, meaning it feels secluded, yet is close to Bray and its amenities. The rooms are large and bright, with generous windows and ceiling heights.

The main hallway welcomes you with a grand white fireplace, and features Turkish-style arches that lead to the elaborately carved staircase. Several of the reception rooms have decorative ceiling cornicing. The drawing room has two sets of French doors that lead out to the garden, while the kitchen has a distinctly more seventies vibe, and features an Aga cooker.

Upstairs, there are six bedrooms, providing plenty of space for a large family (or party guests). The master bedroom has an en suite, while one bedroom is contained in a separate apartment, with its own small kitchen and living room. A study on this level also provides a space for children to do homework or adults to work from home.

Bray is also a desirable location, not only with its proximity to the sea, but its many walks and gardens to visit in the surrounding area. It’s also easy to access Dublin city centre, with links via the DART and the N11. Click through our gallery above to see the full tour of this house.

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