Ashfield House

Detached three-bay two-storey farmhouse, extant 1840, on a cruciform plan centred on single-bay single-storey flat-roofed projecting porch to ground floor with single-bay (three-bay deep) full-height central return (east). Leased, 1901. Occupied, 1911. Refenestrated. Hipped slate roof on a T-shaped plan centred on hipped slate roof (east) with clay ridge tiles, cement rendered chimney stacks having precast concrete thumbnail beaded capping supporting terracotta pots, and replacement uPVC rainwater goods on rendered slate flagged eaves. Creeper- or ivy-covered rendered, ruled and lined walls on rendered chamfered plinth with rusticated rendered piers to corners. Square-headed window openings with cut-granite sills, and concealed dressings framing replacement uPVC casement windows replacing eight-over-eight (ground floor) or four-over-eight (first floor) timber sash windows centred on six-over-six timber sash window (ground floor). Set in landscaped grounds with rendered panelled piers to perimeter having lichen-spotted curvilinear capping supporting wrought iron double gates.

A farmhouse representing an integral component of the domestic built heritage of south County Wexford with the architectural value of the composition suggested by such attributes as the compact plan form centred on a restrained doorcase, albeit one largely concealed behind an expressed porch; and the diminishing in scale of the openings on each floor producing a graduated visual impression. Having been well maintained, the elementary form and massing survive intact together with quantities of the original fabric: the introduction of replacement fittings to most of the openings, however, has not had a beneficial impact on the external expression or integrity of the composition. Furthermore, bellcote-topped outbuildings (extant 1903) continue to contribute positively to the group and setting values of a self-contained ensemble having historic connections with the Jacob family including Francis Jacob (d. 1882), 'late of Ashfield County Wexford' (Calendars of Wills and Administrations 1883, 413); and a succession of tenants of John Eyre (d. 1911) of nearby Ballybrennan House (see 15704801) including Richard Cotton Jones (d. 1909), 'Gentleman late of Ashfield Ballybrennan County Wexford' (NA 1901; Calendars of Wills and Administrations 1909, 275).