Kill Abbey

House

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Detached two-bay two-storey double-pile over basement house with half-dormer attic, extant 1740, on a staggered square plan; single-bay (single-bay deep) two-storey lower return (north). Staggered pitched double-pile (M-profile) slate roof; pitched slate roof (north), clay ridge tiles, roughcast central chimney stack having corbelled stepped capping supporting terracotta or yellow terracotta tapered pots, rendered coping to gable (north) with roughcast chimney stack to apex having corbelled stepped capping supporting yellow terracotta tapered pots, and cast-iron rainwater goods on roughcast eaves retaining cast-iron octagonal hoppers and downpipes. Roughcast walls centred on weathered coat of arms. Square-headed window openings with cut-granite sills, and concealed dressings framing eight-over-eight timber sash windows without horns. Square-headed window openings (west) with cut-granite sills, and concealed dressings framing six-over-six timber sash windows without horns. Pointed-arch door opening (east) with moulded surround framing timber panelled door having overlight. Pointed-arch window opening in bipartite arrangement (first floor) with cut-granite sill, timber Y-mullion, and concealed dressings framing one-over-one timber sash windows. Set in landscaped grounds with rendered panelled piers to perimeter having truncated pyramidal supporting wrought iron double gates.

A house representing an integral component of the domestic built heritage of south County Dublin with the architectural value of the composition, one allegedly repurposing a house erected (1595) by John Ussher on a plot of ground leased (1592) from the Chapter of Christ Church Cathedral (Ball 1902, 50), suggested by such attributes as the compact plan form; the diminishing in scale of the widely spaced openings on each floor producing a graduated visual impression with a later surface finish allegedly concealing evidence of blocked-up corresponding openings; the weathered coat of arms showing a griffin rampant; and the high pitched roof. Having been reasonably well maintained, the form and massing survive intact together with quantities of the original fabric, both to the exterior and to the interior, including crown or cylinder glazing panels in hornless sash frames: meanwhile, a 'complete [and] very wide' staircase showing Solomonic timber work (Pearson 1998, 150) confirms the late seventeenth- or early eighteenth-century origins of a house having historic connections with the Espinasse family including Richard Espinasse (d. 1842), 'Barrister-at-Law of Kill Abbey' (The Gentleman's Magazine 1842, 110); and his nephew, Richard Espinasse (d. 1874), 'late of Kill Abbey County Dublin' (Calendars of Wills and Administrations 1874, 187).

From the Buildings of Ireland (National Inventory of Architectural Heritage) record 60230126

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Picture notes

Computer-made picture. It does not show this monument.
Ianfhunter, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Computer-made picture. It does not show this playground.
National Inventory of Architectural Heritage
Dwxn, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Mike Searle, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
Joan and Max Wellman, Geograph · Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0
Eric Jones, Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0
Patrick Keegan, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0
Darrin Antrobus, Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Inscribed stone in Kill of the GrangeInscribed stone · 5 ydTom: I’m here to help · Computer-made picture. It does not show this monument.

Explorer Tom Inscribed stone in Kill Of The Grange. This datestone from 1595 sits on the house called Kill Abbey, surrounded by ancient yew trees. The house has lost its original look, but the date remains defiantly clear.

Bullaun stone in Kill of the GrangeBullaun stone · 64 ydTom: I’m here to help · Computer-made picture. It does not show this monument.

Explorer Tom Bullaun stone in Kill Of The Grange. Two basin-like hollows are sunk into this granite mass near the graveyard gate. One is covered in soil, so half the story is buried right under our feet.

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Children's playground197 ydTom: I’m here to help · Computer-made picture. It does not show this playground.

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