Newtown House

Detached five-bay two-storey farmhouse, extant 1840, on an L-shaped plan with single-bay (east) or five-bay (west) two-storey side elevations. Occupied, 1911. Renovated, ----. Pitched and hipped slate roof on an L-shaped plan with clay ridge tiles, moss-covered concrete or rendered coping to gables with cement rendered chimney stacks to apexes having precast concrete capping supporting terracotta octagonal pots, and replacement plastic rainwater goods on box eaves. Replacement cement rendered wall to front (north) elevation on rendered plinth with rendered quoins to ends; creeper- or ivy-covered roughcast surface finish (remainder). Elliptical-headed central door opening in tripartite arrangement, doorcase with engaged columns on cut-granite step threshold supporting broken cornice, and concealed dressings framing timber panelled door having sidelights below fanlight. Square-headed window openings with cut-granite sills, and concealed dressings framing replacement uPVC casement windows replacing six-over-six timber sash windows. Set in landscaped grounds.

A farmhouse representing an integral component of the domestic built heritage of the rural environs of New Ross with the architectural value of the composition suggested by such attributes as the symmetrical frontage centred on a Classically-detailed doorcase not only demonstrating good quality workmanship, but also showing a pretty fanlight; and the slight diminishing in scale of the openings on each floor producing a feint graduated tiered visual effect. Having been well maintained, the elementary form and massing survive intact together with quantities of the original fabric: the introduction of replacement fittings to most of the openings, however, has not had a beneficial impact on the external expression or integrity of a farmhouse having historic connections with Brehon family including Thomas Brehon (d. 1868), 'late of Newtown County Wexford' (Calendars of Wills and Administrations 1868, 38); and Richard Colles Brehon (1850-1916), 'Gentleman Farmer late of Newtown New Ross County Wexford' (Calendars of Wills and Administrations 1917, 53).