Belle Vue House

Detached five-bay three-storey house, c.1750, with single-bay three-storey breakfront, single-bay full-height bowed side elevations, and two-bay two-storey return to west possibly originally part of earlier house, c.1700, on site. In use, 1902. Reroofed, c.1950. Undergoing extensive renovation, 2004-5. Pitched roof (originally gabled to breakfront behind pediment removed, c.1950; half-conical to bowed side elevations; pitched to return) with replacement slate, c.1950, clay ridge tiles, rendered chimney stacks, and remains of iron rainwater goods on rendered eaves. Rendered walls over random rubble stone construction with red brick dressings or sections of red brick construction. Square-headed window openings (some in tripartite arrangement to return) with cut-stone sills, six-over-six and three-over-three (top floor) timber sash windows. Segmental-headed door opening with cut-stone step, timber panelled door having sidelights on panelled risers, and fanlight. Interior retaining decorative plasterwork cornices (top floor now collapsed). Set back from road in own grounds.

A well-composed house of the middle size exhibiting distinctive architectural attributes including the bowed side elevations considered a characteristically Irish feature as noted by Maurice Craig. Despite having fallen into disrepair by the end of the twentieth century the essential form and massing survive in place together with substantial quantities of the historic fabric both to the exterior and to the interior where plasterwork accents identify the artistic significance of the site. Presently (2004-5) undergoing a comprehensive restoration project the house remains of additional importance in the locality for the associations with the Chambers, the Butler, and the Hoyne families.