Survey Data
Reg No
13402604
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Artistic
Previous Name
Castlecore House
Original Use
Gates/railings/walls
In Use As
Gates/railings/walls
Date
1845 - 1865
Coordinates
213583, 257315
Date Recorded
11/08/2005
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Entrance gateway serving Castlecor House (13402608), built c. 1855, comprising a pair of cut limestone gate piers (on tapered square-plan) having recessed rectangular panels, moulded limestone plinths, moulded shallow pyramidal capstones and having a pair of ornate cast-iron gates having spear finials. Gateway flanked to either side (north and south) by sweeping sections of snecked dressed limestone boundary wall having chamfered dressed limestone plinths and dressed limestone coping over. Boundary walls terminated by snecked dressed limestone gate piers (on square-plan) having chamfered dressed limestone plinths. Located across the road to the east of attendant gate lodge (13402603) and to the northwest of Castlecor House, at start of sweeping approach avenue to house.
Appraisal
This appealing gateway serves as the main entrance to Castlecor House (13402608), and survives in its original form. It is very well built using very high quality dressed and cut limestone masonry, and provides a suitable impressive main entrance to a house of the stature and importance of Castlecor. Of particular note are the tapered gate piers, which are of very high quality and are testament to the skill of the craftsmen involved in its construction. These piers have an interesting tapered profile that is almost reminiscent of Egyptian pylons. The highly ornate cast-iron gates are notable examples of mid-nineteenth century metallurgy, and are amongst the finest examples of their type and date surviving in County Longford. This gateway is later than the house, and was probably added around 1850 – 60, probably at the same time the attendant gate lodge (13402603) to the west was constructed. This gateway is an interesting feature in the rural landscape to the west of Ballymahon and forms part of a group of structures associated with Castlecor House (13402608), and is an integral element of the built heritage of the local area.