Farm house in Knockbrandon Upper

Detached three-bay two-storey farmhouse, extant 1839, on a rectangular plan. Occupied, 1901; 1911. Sold, 1966. Resold, 1985. Renovated, ----. Hipped slate roof with clay or terracotta ridge tiles, paired cement rendered central chimney stacks having concrete capping supporting terracotta pots, and cast-iron rainwater goods on rendered eaves retaining cast-iron downpipes. Replacement cement rendered battered walls bellcast over rendered plinth. Hipped segmental-headed central door opening with timber mullions on cut-granite step threshold supporting timber transom, and concealed dressings framing timber boarded or tongue-and-groove timber panelled door having sidelights below fanlight. Square-headed window openings with cut-granite sills, and concealed dressings framing replacement uPVC casement windows replacing six-over-six timber sash windows. Set in landscaped grounds.

A farmhouse representing an integral component of the domestic built heritage of north County Wexford with the architectural value of the composition suggested by such attributes as the compact rectilinear plan form centred on a restrained doorcase showing a simple radial fanlight; and the disproportionate bias of solid to void in the massing compounded by the very slight diminishing in scale of the openings on each floor producing a feint graduated visual impression. Having been well maintained, the elementary form and massing survive intact together with quantities of the original fabric, both to the exterior and to the interior: however, the introduction of replacement fittings to most of the openings has not had a beneficial impact on the character or integrity of the composition. Furthermore, adjacent outbuildings (extant 1839) continue to contribute positively to the group and setting values of a self-contained ensemble having historic connections with the Doyle family including Thomas Doyle (d. 1880), 'Farmer late of Knockbrandon County Wexford' (Calendars of Wills and Administrations 1882, 198); and James Doyle (d. 1929), 'Farmer' (NA 1901; NA 1911).