Survey Data
Reg No
13401432
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Technical
Original Use
House
In Use As
House
Date
1900 - 1920
Coordinates
216955, 274254
Date Recorded
02/08/2005
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Detached three-bay two-storey double-pile house, built c. 1910, having projecting flat-roofed porch to the centre of the main elevation (south), gabled half dormer to the east end of the main elevation (south) and single-storey canted bay window to the east elevation. Pitched natural slate roofs with central rendered chimneystacks. Lined-and-ruled cement rendered walls to ground floor and roughcast rendered walls with strap render details and rendered quoins to first floor. Square-headed window openings having rendered surrounds with keystone detail and with replacement windows and concrete sills. Round-headed door opening to porch having rendered surrounds with keystone motif and square-headed half glazed timber panelled door. Set back from road in own grounds to the southeast of Longford Town. Low plinth wall to road-frontage with wrought-iron railings over. Vehicular entrance to the southeast if house comprising a pair of rendered gate piers (on square-plan) having wrought-iron double gates. Pedestrian entrance to the south of house comprising a pair of rendered gate piers (on square-plan) having wrought-iron gate. Single-storey outbuilding to the rear (north).
Appraisal
This unusual and eclectic house, of early twentieth-century appearance, retains much of its early character and form. The loss of the original fittings to the openings fails to detract substantially from its visual appeal. The front elevation is asymmetrical, with window openings at three different levels and with a gabled half dormer opening to the east end. The window openings at different levels is a feature of some styles of the ex-servicemen houses that were built throughout the country by the Board of Works between 1919 – 23 (under the Irish Land (Provision for Sailors and Soldiers Act) 1919), but this house appears to have been built as a private residence (ex-servicemen houses were usually semi-detached), and may be earlier as a building is indicated here on a 1914 map of the area (Ordnance Survey third edition six-inch map). The front elevation is also treated with a variety of differing rendered finishes, which creates an appealing textured appearance. The inspiration for the architecture may be the earlier Arts and Crafts movement, as can be seen in the rendered sham timber shuttering, and dormer window to the first floor. The simple gates and railings add to this composition, which is a pleasing feature along the main approach road into Longford Town from the east. The single-storey outbuilding to the rear may be an earlier house to site.