Okyle House

Detached five-bay single-storey thatched estate manager’s house, c.1830, on a T-shaped plan retaining early fenestration with single-bay single-storey return with dormer attic to north. Renovated and extended, c.1980, comprising single-bay single-storey lean-to infill bay to north with single-bay single-storey lean-to projecting porch added to centre. Now in private residential use. Hipped roof (pitched to return) with thatch having rope work to ridges, cut-limestone chimney stacks, and rendered chimney stack to return having red brick dressings. Shallow lean-to corrugated-iron roofs to additional ranges with no rainwater goods on timber eaves. Painted lime rendered walls over random rubble stone construction with batter. Painted cement rendered walls to additional ranges. Square-headed window openings with cut-stone sills, and 2/2 timber sash windows. Square-headed window openings to additional ranges with concrete sills, and timber casement windows. Square-headed door openings with glazed timber panelled doors. Interior with timber panelled shutters to window openings, and timber panelled doors having timber panelled reveals. Set back from road in own grounds. (ii) Attached three-bay single-storey rubble stone outbuilding, c.1830, to north. Reroofed, c.1980. Pitched roof with replacement corrugated-iron, c.1980, iron ridge tiles, and cast-iron rainwater goods. Limewashed random rubble stone walls. Square-headed window openings with no sills, timber lintels, and timber panel fittings. Square-headed door opening with timber lintel, and timber panelled door. (iii) Attached two-bay single-storey rubble stone outbuilding, c.1880, to north. Pitched slate roof with clay ridge tiles, rendered coping, and no rainwater goods on rendered squared rubble stone eaves. Limewashed random rubble stone walls. Square-headed window opening with no sill, timber lintel, and timber panelled fitting. Square-headed door opening with timber lintel, and timber boarded door. (iv) Attached three-bay single-storey mass-concrete outbuilding, c.1930, to north. Reroofed, c.1980. Pitched roof with replacement corrugated-iron, c.1980, iron ridge tiles, and no rainwater goods. Limewashed mass-concrete walls with piers (possibly originally flanking openings). Openings not visible.

An attractive thatched cottage of some distinction in a county context, having originally been intended as accommodation for the manager of a local estate. Now in private use, the cottage retains most of the original form and historic fabric, both to the exterior and to the interior. A range of attendant outbuildings serve to enhance the group value of the site, and the complex remains an important element of the vernacular tradition in County Waterford.