Vallombrosa

Detached four-bay two-storey over basement house, extant 1881, on a T-shaped plan centred on two-bay two-storey double gable-fronted split-level breakfront. Set in landscaped grounds with rendered piers to perimeter having cut-granite capping supporting wrought iron double gates.

A house representing an important component of the domestic built heritage of south County Dublin with the architectural value of the composition, one repurposing an earlier house occupied by Thomas McBride (1795-1843) 'of Vallombrosa', confirmed by such attributes as the deliberate alignment maximising on scenic vistas overlooking wooded grounds and a stream-like tributary of the Dargle River; the compact, albeit complex plan form centred on a split-level breakfront; the diminishing in scale of the openings on each floor producing a graduated visual impression with the principal "apartments" defined by a polygonal bay window; and the decorative timber work embellishing a multi-faceted roofline. Having been well maintained, the elementary form and massing survive intact together with substantial quantities of the original fabric, both to the exterior and to the interior where contemporary joinery; chimneypieces; and plasterwork enrichments, all highlight the artistic potential of the composition. Furthermore, a nearby gate lodge (see 60280005) continues to contribute positively to the group and setting values of a self-contained estate having historic connections with Robert Orme (1812-81), 'late of Vallombrosa Bray County Dublin' (Calendars of Wills and Administrations 1882, 608); and Philip Townsend Somerville-Large, co-founder of the Mount Street Club (1934).