farm house

Detached three-bay two-storey farmhouse, extant 1839, on an L-shaped plan; three-bay (south) or single-bay (north) two-storey side elevations. Renovated, ----. Hipped slate roof on an L-shaped plan with clay ridge tiles, paired red brick Running bond central chimney stacks having stringcourses below corbelled stepped capping supporting yellow terracotta tapered pots, and replacement uPVC rainwater goods on cut-limestone eaves. Repointed coursed rubble limestone battered walls originally rendered with rough cut limestone flush quoins to corners. Camber-headed central door opening with concrete threshold, and cut-limestone surround framing replacement timber panelled door having overlight. Square-headed window openings in camber-headed recesses with concrete sills, and repointed red brick block-and-start surrounds framing replacement uPVC casement windows replacing six-over-six timber sash windows. Interior including (ground floor): central hall retaining carved timber surrounds to door openings framing timber panelled doors; and carved timber surrounds to door openings to remainder framing timber panelled doors with carved timber surrounds to window openings framing timber panelled shutters. Set back from road in landscaped grounds with cast-iron colonette piers to perimeter supporting cast-iron gate.

A farmhouse representing an integral component of the domestic built heritage of County Kilkenny with the architectural value of the composition suggested by such attributes as the deliberate alignment maximising on scenic vistas overlooking gently rolling grounds with mountainous peaks in the far distance; the compact plan form centred on a restrained doorcase; and the somewhat disproportionate bias of solid to void in the massing compounded by the diminishing in scale of the widely spaced openings on each floor producing a graduated visual impression. Having been well maintained, the form and massing survive intact together with quantities of the original fabric, both to the exterior and to the interior: however, neither the removal of the surface finish nor the introduction of replacement fittings to the openings has had a beneficial impact on the character or integrity of a farmhouse making a pleasing visual statement in a sylvan street scene.