Harpoonstown House

Detached three-bay two-storey farmhouse, extant 1840, on an L-shaped plan with single-bay (north) or two-bay (south) two-storey side elevations. Occupied, 1911. Sold, 2004. Refenestrated, ----. Hipped slate roof on an L-shaped plan with clay ridge tiles, paired cement rendered central chimney stacks having concrete capping supporting yellow terracotta octagonal pots, and cast-iron rainwater goods on slate flagged eaves retaining cast-iron octagonal or ogee hoppers and downpipes. Creeper- or ivy-covered rendered, ruled and lined walls on rendered chamfered plinth. Hipped segmental-headed central door opening in segmental-headed recess with timber mullions on cut-granite padstones supporting timber transom, and concealed dressings framing timber panelled double doors having two-over-two timber sash sidelights below fanlight. Square-headed window openings with cut-granite sills, and concealed dressings framing replacement uPVC casement windows. Interior including (ground floor): central hall retaining carved timber surrounds to door openings framing timber panelled doors, staircase on a dog leg plan with turned timber "spindle" balusters supporting carved timber banister terminating in volute, and carved timber surrounds to door openings to landing framing timber panelled doors; and carved timber surrounds to door openings to remainder framing timber panelled doors with timber panelled shutters to window openings. Set in landscaped grounds.

A farmhouse representing an integral component of the domestic built heritage of south County Wexford with the architectural value of the composition, one succeeding a house erected (1720) by Michael Browne (1690-1767) of Mayglass (Rowe and Scallan 2004, 530), suggested by such attributes as the compact plan form centred on a restrained doorcase showing a pretty radial fanlight; and the 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 substantial quantities of the original fabric, both to the exterior and to the interior: the introduction of replacement fittings to most of the openings, however, has not had a beneficial impact on the character or integrity of the composition. Furthermore, adjacent outbuildings (extant 1903) continue to contribute positively to the group and setting values of a self-contained ensemble having historic connections with the Ffrench family including Peter Ffrench MP (1844-1929) 'who represented South Wexford in the Imperial Parliament for 28 years commencing in 1893' (cf. 15704552).