House in Ballinavary

Detached three-bay single-storey house with dormer attic, extant 1853, on a rectangular plan with four-bay single-storey side elevations; three-bay single-storey rear (west) elevation. Vacated, 1998. Derelict, 2004. Undergoing "restoration", 2007. Hipped slate roof on an E-shaped plan with clay or terracotta ridge tiles, cement rendered chimney stacks on axis with ridge having moss-covered concrete capping supporting terracotta pots, rooflights to rear (west) pitch, and no rainwater goods surviving on rendered slate flagged eaves. Part creeper- or ivy-covered fine roughcast walls over coursed rubble stone construction with concealed red brick flush quoins to corners. Segmental-headed central door opening approached by flight of eight cut-granite steps with cut-granite step threshold, doorcase with three quarter-engaged columns on plinths supporting shallow cornice on flush beaded frieze, and moulded rendered surround framing timber panelled double doors having fanlight. Square-headed flanking window openings with cut-granite sills, and concealed red brick block-and-start surrounds framing timber casement windows. Square-headed window openings to side elevations with cut-granite sills, and concealed red brick block-and-start surrounds framing eight-over-eight (east) or six-over-six (remainder) timber sash windows. Round- or segmental-headed central door opening to rear (west) elevation with concealed red brick block-and-start surround framing glazed timber boarded door having fanlight. Interior including central entrance hall undergoing "restoration", 2007; carved timber surrounds to door openings to remainder framing timber panelled doors with timber panelled shutters to window openings. Set in shared grounds.

A house representing an integral component of the mid nineteenth-century built heritage of County Wexford with the architectural value of the composition suggested by such attributes as the deliberate alignment maximising on scenic vistas overlooking rolling grounds; the compact rectilinear plan form centred on a Classically-detailed doorcase not only demonstrating good quality workmanship, but also showing a simple radial fanlight; and the high pitched roofline. Having been reasonably 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: an unfinished "restoration", however, may determine the ongoing architectural heritage status of a house forming part of a neat self-contained group alongside a nearby mill (see 15702568) with the resulting ensemble making a pleasing visual statement overlooking the Boro River.