worker's house

Detached three-bay three-storey rubble stone former canal agent’s house, c.1790, with round-headed door opening to centre. Extensively renovated, 2001-2, to accommodate use as apartments. Gable-ended roof with slate. Clay ridge tiles. Rendered chimney stacks. Reconstituted stone coping, 2001-2, to gables. Replacement uPVC rainwater goods, 2001-2, on eaves course. Random rubble stone walls (probably originally rendered). Square-headed window openings. Replacement concrete sills, 2001-2. Reconstituted stone block-and-start surrounds, 2001-2. Replacement 1/1 timber sash windows. Round-headed door opening. Cut-stone block-and-start doorcase with keystone. Replacement timber panelled door, 2001-2, with spoked fanlight. Set back from line of Grand Canal (Athy Branch) with forecourt to front. Grand Canal (Athy Branch) running to south-east.

This former canal agent’s house is of considerable social and historical significance, having been built as part of a development initiated upon completion of the Grand Canal (Athy Branch) in Athy, which included a pair of flanking warehouses (demolished, 2001-2, and replaced with purpose-built apartment blocks). A symmetrically-planned substantial building of graceful, balanced proportions centred about a round-headed door opening, the house has recently (2001-2) been much renovated leading to the loss of much of the original appearance and character. The removal of the warehouses and their replacement with buildings of little character has also removed much of the architectural/historical context of the house. The house is, at present, primarily of interest for its associations with the development of the Grand Canal in the locality.