Survey Data
Reg No
22830058
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Artistic, Social
Previous Name
Waterford District Lunatic Asylum
Original Use
Church/chapel
In Use As
Church/chapel
Date
1850 - 1870
Coordinates
261355, 110848
Date Recorded
08/08/2003
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Detached four-bay double-height Gothic-style Catholic chapel, c.1860, with single-bay single-storey gabled projecting porch to north-west and single-bay double-height lower chancel to south-east having single-bay single-storey sacristy to south-west. Pitched slate roofs with decorative clay ridge tiles, copper-clad vents to ridge, cut-stone coping having gabled bellcote to north-west and cross finial to south-east, and cast-iron rainwater goods. Random rubble stone walls with limestone ashlar quoins to corners and stepped buttresses. Unpainted rendered wall to south-east. Lancet window openings (in tripartite arrangement to chancel; paired to porch) with cut-limestone block-and-start surrounds having chamfered reveals and fixed-pane diamond-leaded windows and leaded stained glass windows to chancel. Curved triangular window opening to gable to north-west with cut-limestone surround and tracery (forming three curved triangular lights) and fixed-pane leaded stained glass windows. Pointed-arch and square-headed door openings to porch with cut-limestone surrounds having chamfered reveals (shouldered to square-headed opening) and tongue-and-groove timber panelled double doors with decorative wrought iron hinges. Set back from road in grounds shared with Saint Otteran’s Hospital with landscaped grounds to site.
Appraisal
An attractive chapel of compact appearance, which retains its original form and massing, together with important salient features and materials, and which contributes to the historic quality of the group of buildings forming the Saint Otteran’s Hospital complex. Fine cut-stone dressings produce a robust Gothic tone, and attest to high quality stone masonry, while stained glass panels attest to high quality local craftsmanship, and contribute to the artistic design distinction of the composition.