Knocktopher Abbey

Detached three-bay two-storey double-pile country house with dormer attic, built 1866, on a T-shaped plan centred on single-bay three-stage tower on a square plan; three-bay two-storey rear (south) elevation centred on single-bay two-storey gabled breakfront. Occupied, 1901; 1911. Sold, 1981. Pitched double-pile (M-profile) slate roof including gablets to window openings to dormer attic, clay ridge tiles, lichen-spotted cut-limestone coping to gables on cut-limestone "Cavetto" kneelers with margined limestone ashlar buttressed chimney stacks to apexes having stringcourses below capping supporting terracotta or yellow terracotta pots, and cast-iron rainwater goods on cut-granite consoles retaining cast-iron octagonal or ogee hoppers and downpipes. Tuck pointed snecked limestone walls on dragged cut-limestone chamfered stepped plinth with margined limestone ashlar diagonal stepped buttresses to corners having moss-covered "slated" coping. Pointed-arch central door opening between cusped lancet window openings with cut-granite step threshold, and cut-granite block-and-start surround having chamfered rebated reveals framing diagonal timber boarded double doors. Lancet window openings in bipartite arrangement ("cheeks"), cut-granite block-and-start surrounds having chamfered reveals with hood mouldings on foliate label stops framing one-over-one timber sash windows. Lancet window openings (second stage) with cut-granite block-and-start surround having chamfered reveals framing one-over-one timber sash windows. Paired cusped lancet window openings (top stage) with cut-granite sill course, and cut-granite block-and-start surrounds having chamfered reveals framing one-over-one timber sash windows. Lancet window openings in tripartite arrangement (ground floor), cut-granite block-and-start surrounds having chamfered reveals with hood mouldings on foliate label stops framing one-over-one timber sash windows. Cusped lancet window openings in tripartite arrangement (first floor) with cut-granite block-and-start surrounds having chamfered reveals framing one-over-one timber sash windows. Paired lancet window openings (dormer attic) with cut-granite surrounds having chamfered reveals framing one-over-one timber sash windows. Square-headed central door opening (south) between square-headed window openings with cut-granite step threshold, and cut-granite block-and-start surround having chamfered reveals with hood moulding on foliate label stops framing diagonal timber boarded door. Cusped lancet window openings in bipartite arrangement (first floor) with cut-granite block-and-start surrounds having chamfered reveals framing one-over-one timber sash windows. Lancet window openings in tripartite arrangement (ground floor), cut-granite block-and-start surrounds having chamfered reveals with hood mouldings on foliate label stops framing one-over-one timber sash windows. Cusped lancet window openings in tripartite arrangement (first floor) with cut-granite surrounds having chamfered reveals framing one-over-one timber sash windows. Interior including (ground floor): vestibule; square-headed door opening into hall with glazed timber panelled double doors having sidelights on panelled risers below overlight; hall retaining carved timber surrounds to door openings framing timber panelled doors, moulded plasterwork cornice to ceiling, timber panelled staircase on a dog leg plan with Solomonic balusters supporting carved timber banister terminating in timber newels, carved timber surround to window opening to half-landing, carved timber surrounds to door openings to landing framing timber panelled doors, and moulded plasterwork cornice to ceiling; and carved timber surrounds to door openings to remainder framing timber panelled doors with carved timber surrounds to window openings. Set in landscaped grounds.