house

Attached five-bay two-storey house, c.1830, originally two separate three-bay two-storey (south-west) and two-bay two-storey (north-east) houses retaining early fenestration to rear elevation to north-west. Refenestrated, c.1940. Renovated, c.1960, with openings remodelled to right ground floor to accommodate commercial use. Gable-ended roof with slate. Clay ridge tiles. Roughcast chimney stacks. Cast-iron rainwater goods on eaves course. Roughcast walls. Painted. Rendered dressings including channelled piers to end and band to eaves. Square-headed window openings (remodelled, c.1940, to left ground floor). Rendered sills. Replacement timber casement windows, c.1940. Original 2/2 timber sash windows to rear elevation to north-west. Square-headed door opening. Rendered surround. Replacement timber panelled door, c.1980. Openings remodelled, c.1960, to right ground floor with rendered surround, fixed-pane timber display window and timber panelled door. Road fronted. Concrete flagged footpath to front.

This house, originally built as two separate houses, is of some social and historical significance, representing the continued expansion of the historic core of Kildare town in the early nineteenth century. Originally composed of graceful, balanced proportions, the amalgamated building, incorporating remodelled openings, produces a varied primary (south-east) elevation that is an attractive feature on the streetscape of the junction of Bride Street with Saint Brigid’s Square. Renovated in the mid to late twentieth century, the replacement timber windows are an attractive addition to the composition, while the render shopfront alludes to a true traditional Irish form. Elsewhere, early or original features and materials remain in situ, including timber sash fenestration to the rear (north-west) elevation, and a slate roof having cast-iron rainwater goods