house

Terraced two-bay single-storey house over raised basement, built c. 1860, as one of terrace of nine. Pitched slate roof with brick chimneystacks, having clay pots, behind parapet with cut granite coping. Red brick, laid in Flemish bond, to wall to front (east) elevation, having cut granite plinth course over lined-and-ruled rendered wall to basement. Square-headed window openings with granite sills and rendered reveals, having six-over-six pane timber sliding sash windows. Round-headed door opening to front with moulded render surround. Timber doorcase comprising panelled pilasters and scrolled consoles supporting stepped cornice, plain fanlight. Timber panelled door. Granite steps having cast-iron bootscrape to platform. Wrought-iron railings. Square-headed door opening to basement with timber door. Wrought-iron gate and matching railings, having cast-iron corner post, on carved granite plinth wall enclosing basement area.

This small scale yet attractive house is enhanced by the retention of historic features such as the classically-influenced doorcase and timber sliding sash windows. It forms part of a row of houses of uniform height that creates an orderly rhythm in the streetscape. The stone setts to the road adjacent to the terrace are a subtle but attractive reminder of early civil engineering in this suburban area. Synge Street was reputedly named for the Church of Ireland Bishop Edward Synge who held land there in the eighteenth century. The street began to be developed in the mid-nineteenth century, as demand for suburban housing grew.