The Cottage in Kiltown

Detached three-bay two-storey house, c.1900, possibly over basement incorporating fabric of earlier house, c.1825, with pair of box bay windows to ground floor flanking central entrance bay, two-bay two-storey single-pile parallel range to north having full-height canted bay to side (east) elevation, and two-bay two-storey single-pile recessed wing to left having single-bay single-storey projecting linking bay to right ground floor. Hipped slate roofs (continuing into half-polygonal section to canted bay) with clay ridge tiles, rendered chimney stacks having moulded cornices, and cast-iron rainwater goods on rendered eaves (overhanging eaves to main block having consoles). Ivy-clad painted roughcast walls with unpainted rendered walls to rear (north) elevation, and unpainted rendered walls to parallel range having rendered quoins to corners. Square-headed window openings in tripartite arrangement to main block (including to box bay windows with panelled posts supporting moulded cornices having consoles) with cut-limestone sills, and one-over-one timber sash windows having margins (overlights to box bay windows). Square-headed window openings to parallel range with cut-limestone sills, rendered keystones, and one-over-one timber sash windows. Square-headed door opening with ivy-clad surround, and replacement glazed timber panelled door, c.1950. Interior with timber panelled shutters to window openings. Set back from road in own grounds with landscaped grounds to site.(ii) Detached two-bay single-storey stable building, c.1850, to north with elliptical-headed carriageway to left. Hipped slate roof with clay ridge tiles, and no rainwater goods surviving on red brick eaves. Limewashed (whitewashed) random rubble stone walls with dressed stone quoins to corners. Square-headed door opening with limewashed (whitewashed) red brick voussoirs, and timber boarded half-door. Elliptical-headed carriageway to left with limewashed (whitewashed) red brick block-and-start surround rising into red brick voussoirs, timber boarded double half-doors having sidepanels, and overpanels.(iii) Detached three-bay single-storey stable building, c.1850, to north. Pitched slate roof with clay ridge tiles, and iron rainwater goods on red brick eaves. Limewashed (whitewashed) random rubble stone walls with dressed stone quoins to corners. Square-headed door openings with timber boarded half-doors.

An elegantly-composed substantial house exhibiting distinctive characteristics suggestive of a revival of interest in features redolent of the Regency period: bay windows, decorative glazing patterns, and an overhanging roof all serve to enliven the architectural design value of the composition. A comparatively reserved treatment elsewhere when considered in conjunction with the complex form and massing attests to a protracted evolution over a prolonged period. Having subsequently been well maintained, thereby presenting an early aspect, the house contributes positively to the historic quality of the area. A collection of attendant outbuildings exhibiting a somewhat rustic character enhances the group and setting values of the site in the townscape. The house remains of special importance in the locality for the associations with William Dobbs (n. d.), the reputed builder who held interests in the nearby Castlecomer Coal Mines.