Valley House — Acaill [Achill Island]

Detached four-bay two-storey country house with dormer attic, dated 1902, on a U-shaped plan originally three-bay two-storey centred on single-bay two-storey flat-roofed projecting breakfront; pair of single-bay (single-bay deep) two-storey returns (north). Vacant, 1911. Sold, 1942. Pitched slate roof on a U-shaped plan centred on flat roof behind parapet (breakfront), clay ridge tiles, paired rendered, ruled and lined central chimney stacks having stringcourses below "Cavetto"-detailed corbelled stepped capping supporting terracotta or yellow terracotta octagonal pots, timber bargeboards to gables on timber purlins framing cast-concrete shield date stones ("1894"; "1902"), and replacement uPVC rainwater goods on eaves boards on exposed timber rafters retaining some cast-iron hoppers and downpipes. Rendered, ruled and lined walls centred on rendered, ruled and lined surface finish (breakfront) with battlemented parapet having bull nose-detailed rendered coping. Square-headed central door opening with tessellated ceramic tiled threshold, and concealed dressings framing timber panelled double doors having overlight. Square-headed window opening (first floor) with concrete sill, and rosette-detailed moulded surround framing fixed-pane timber fitting. Square-headed window openings with concrete sills, and rosette-detailed moulded surrounds framing one-over-one timber sash windows having part exposed sash boxes. Interior including (ground floor): vestibule with carved timber surrounds to window openings framing timber panelled shutters, and moulded plasterwork cornice to ceiling centred on plasterwork ceiling rose; square-headed door opening into hall with glazed timber panelled double doors having sidelights on panelled risers below overlight; hall with tessellated terracotta tiled floor, egg-and-dart-detailed timber dado rail centred on carved timber surrounds to door openings framing timber panelled doors, moulded plasterwork cornice to ceiling, staircase on a dog leg plan with tapered timber balusters supporting carved timber banister terminating in turned timber newels, carved timber surrounds to door openings to landings framing timber panelled doors, and moulded plasterwork cornice to ceiling; dining room (south-west) retaining carved timber surround to door opening framing timber panelled door with carved timber surrounds to window openings framing timber panelled shutters, dado rail centred on cut-white marble Classical-style chimneypiece, and moulded plasterwork cornice to ceiling; drawing room (south-east) retaining carved timber surround to door opening framing timber panelled door with carved timber surrounds to window openings framing timber panelled shutters, dado rail centred on rosette-detailed cut-veined cream marble Classical-style chimneypiece, and moulded plasterwork cornice to ceiling; and carved timber surrounds to door openings to remainder framing timber panelled doors with timber panelled shutters to window openings. Set in landscaped grounds.