Survey Data
Reg No
13401002
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural
Previous Name
Rockfield House
Original Use
Outbuilding
In Use As
Outbuilding
Date
1800 - 1840
Coordinates
232510, 283944
Date Recorded
24/08/2005
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Detached multiple-bay single and two-storey outbuildings, built c. 1820, originally associated with Dalystown House (now demolished). Comprising two-storey outbuilding to the south (c. 1820) with a single-storey range attached to the west, added c. 1860, and two-storey former stable block to the north (c. 1820). Single-bay two-storey lean-to extension to the east end of front elevation (north) of two-storey outbuilding to the south. In use as outbuilding associated with modern house. Pitched natural slate roof to two-storey building to south with raised cut limestone verges to the gable ends and some remaining sections of cast-iron rainwater goods. Rendered rubble limestone walls. Oculus opening with red brick surround and timber lattice to centre of front elevation (north) at first floor level. Square-headed openings with timber battened doors or timber louvered vents to first floor. Square-headed door openings with timber battened doors to ground floor. Attached single-bay outbuilding to west elevation, built c. 1860, with pitched corrugated-metal roof, rendered walls and segmental-headed arcade to north elevation. Detached multiple-bay two-storey stable block to north of yard, built c. 1820, with porch addition to east end of south elevation. Pitched slate and corrugated-metal roof with some cast-iron rainwater goods. Rendered chimneystack to east end. Rendered roughly coursed limestone walls, with decorative cast-iron air vents, having pebbledashed finish to east end. Square-headed window openings with tooled limestone sills. Square-headed door openings with timber battened half-doors. Located around yard to west of former site of Dalystown House/Rockfield House. Located to the north of Granard.
Appraisal
Although now semi-derelict and recently altered, this complex of single- and two-storey outbuildings retains much of its early character, form and fabric. They originally served Dalystown House (formerly Rockfield House), now demolished (part of the building possibly survives to the west of the complex). The scale of these outbuildings suggests that this was a house of some importance and wealth. This complex provides an interesting historical insight into the extensive resources required to run and maintain a small country estate in Ireland during the nineteenth century. The south range may have contained a pigeon loft, the pigeons entering via the oculus in the upper storey. These structures were once located around a yard to the west of the house and were apparently entered via the fine arched gateway (13401003), with which it forms a pair of related structures. Rockfield House/Dalystown House has the home of (Alderman) Laurence P. Reynolds (J P) in the 1870s, when he had a landholding of 936 acres.