Freame Mount

Detached three-bay two-storey over raised basement red brick country house, dated 1772, having full-height entrance breakfront, and multiple single, two, three and four-storey additions and extensions to rear, having pitched, catslide, and lean-to slate roofs. Hipped slate roof with paired rendered chimneystacks having terracotta pots, and cast-iron rainwater goods. Red brick walls to front and side elevations having cut-stone plinth course with rendered coping, lime rendered walls to rear elevation. Carved date stone to rear elevation. Square-headed window openings with cut-stone sills and timber sliding sash windows, three-over-six panes to first floor front elevation and side elevations, and six-over-six pane to ground floor to side elevations, tripartite six-over-six pane to ground floor front elevation and centre of first floor front elevation having panelled mullions. Three-over-six pane timber sliding sash windows to rear elevation, with cast-iron bars to basement, replacement timber windows to front elevation basement, and to some openings to rear elevation. Venetian-style doorcase having painted smooth render surround, round-headed door opening with double-leaf carved timber panelled door having fanlight with timber Y-tracery, moulded architrave and dropped triple keystone detailing, flanked by square-headed sidelights with four-over-four pane timber sliding sash windows with painted sills and risers, and with pilasters flanking door and window openings and supporting moulded cornice. Flight of cut-stone steps with wrought-iron railings with integral bootscrapes. Set in own grounds, approached by drive. Octagonal-plan gate piers with wrought-iron gates to site entrance.

This substantial Georgian country house was built by Charles Mayne, a land agent. It was named Freame Mount at the request of Philadelphia Hannah Freame, wife of Thomas Dawson of Dawson Grove. The imposing front elevation is visible from the road and adds interest to the rural landscape, with the balance and restraint of this elevation forming a surprising and pleasing contrast to the complexity of the rear of the building. The retention of much important early fabric adds a patina of age and enhances the form of the house. The three-bay two-storey house with paired chimneystacks, and symmetrical front elevation with the emphasis on a central door was popular throughout Ireland, but this is quite an early example, and a particularly well designed and well finished structure, indicating the prosperity of the area at the time.