house

Semi-detached three-bay two-storey, Italianate style house, built 1880, with advanced end bay now in use as offices. Hipped slate roof with clay ridge tiles, two rendered chimney stacks to end bay and further moulded stack to party wall, cast- iron rainwater goods with brick corbels to gutters. Plain ruled and lined ashlar effect render to ground floor,first floor red brick separated by a plat-band, continuous with first floor sills, moulded yellow brick eaves course, raised cut-limestone corner quoins, side elevation similar to front, roughcast render to rear. Square headed cut limestone surrounds to door and windows of front and side elevations, ground floor windows with an entablature with fluted frieze, doorcase surmounted by dentil-decorated pediment on fluted brackets, raised rendered architraves and limestone sills to rear elevation. Two-over-two timber sliding sash windows with ogee horns, uPVC windows to rear and original four panelled entrance door. Set back from the road behind cast-iron railings on a tall plinth of rubble limestone and rendered coping, well-detailed gate piers comprising tall plinth supporting column with gadrooned conical cap, gates in matching style to the railings.

An elegant, Italianate style pair of houses that survive with original appearance and character intact, forming an important landmark on the approach into Portlaoise. It is executed to a high standard with the attractive use of contrasting pale limestone and red brick and cut limestone detailing with design similarities to the nearby former manager's house of the Maltings (12504218). The front railings and piers are of exceptional architectural quality and design.