The Shrubbery

Detached three-bay two-storey over part-raised basement house, c.1750, with round-headed door opening to centre approached by flight of steps. Extended, c.1850, comprising two-bay single-storey over part-raised basement flanking lateral wings with single-bay single-storey canted lower projecting bay to south-east. Renovated and refenestrated, c.2000. Hipped roofs with slate. Clay ridge tiles. Rendered chimney stacks. Cast-iron rainwater goods (on cut-stone eaves course to central block). Replacement render, c.2000, to walls. Unpainted. Rendered quoins to corners. Square-headed window openings. Stone sills. Replacement uPVC casement windows, c.2000. Round-headed door opening approached by flight of five cut-stone steps. Cut-stone block-and-start surround with moulded entablature and keystone. Timber panelled door. Fanlight. Set back from road in own mature landscaped ground with gravel drive and forecourt to front.

The Shrubbery is a fine, substantial gentleman’s residence that, extended in the mid nineteenth century, presents the form of a Georgian Classical house – of social interest and historic, the house was probably built by a local patron of high status in the community. The later flanking wings have an unusual impact on the overall design, with openings that are larger in scale than those to the original block. Recently (c.2000) renovated, leading to the loss of much of the early fabric, the original form nevertheless remains intact. Some alterations made during renovations have not had a positive bearing on the composition, however – the variation in scale of openings has been exaggerated by the insertion of unsympathetic casement windows, while the replacement render has begun to spoil on the central block. Such alterations are reversible in the main, however, and a more accurate representation of the original appearance could be restored. Early features that remain include the fine cut-stone doorcase approached by a flight of stone steps, together with timber door fittings and a delicate fanlight. Set back from the road in its own grounds, and identified on Kinnegad Road by an attractive gateway (11802015/KD-05-02-15), the house is a prominent and attractive landmark in the locality.