Survey Data
Reg No
13402501
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Artistic
Original Use
House
In Use As
House
Date
1850 - 1880
Coordinates
202674, 257437
Date Recorded
07/09/2005
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Detached three-bay two-storey house, built c. 1870, having lean-to porch to the centre of the front elevation (northwest), flat-roofed canted timber framed bay window to southwest elevation, flat-roofed three-bay two-storey addition to west side of rear (southeast) elevation, and single-bay single-storey lean-to extension to east side of rear elevation. Iron water tank over extension to the rear (southeast). Hipped natural slate roof with overhanging corbelled eaves with paired timber brackets, and having pair of stepped cut limestone chimneystacks to the centre of the roof with moulded limestone coping over. Cast-iron rainwater goods. Roughcast rendered walls, smooth rendered walls to porch. Square-headed window openings with one-over-one pane timber sliding sash windows and tooled limestone sills. Timber panelled double doors to base of bay window. Decorative render to doorway with panelled Doric pilasters and console brackets flanking half-glazed timber panelled door with shouldered overlight above. Set in extensive mature grounds with walled garden to rear and complex of outbuildings (13402502) to the east, main entrance gate to the east, and the rubble stone boundary wall to the east and the south. Located to the south of Lanesborough and to the west of Ballymahon. House overlooks Lough Ree to the north.
Appraisal
An attractive middle-sized house of late nineteenth-century appearance, which retains its early character and fabric. The width and height of the front porch is an unusual feature. This may be a later addition, and gives the house a distinctive appearance. The bay window to the east is an interesting example of well preserved nineteenth-century craftsmanship and design. The small shutters below the window open to transform the opening into a door. The natural materials used in this house - slate, timber, lime render - provide depth and texture as well as a patina of age. This house is one of a number of interesting middle-sized houses of nineteenth century date in the southwest corner of County Longford. Sited on the shore of Lough Ree, this house is enhanced by its attractive mature wooded grounds and is oriented to take advantage of the views to the north. It forms part of a group of related sites along with the outbuildings (13402502) to the east, and the rubble stone boundary wall (13402503) to the east and the south. Summersit was the home of a H. G. Gregg, Justice of the Peace, in 1894 (Slater’s Royal National Directory of Ireland). This is probably Huband George Gregg (1847 – 1941), High Sheriff of Longford in 1875, and he may have built Summersit as a retreat. The Gregg family had their main seat in the area at Oldtown House (13401450), near Ardagh. There was a 'house, lands and outbuildings' here c. 1860 (Griffith's Valuation), owned by a W. Roberts and leased to an Isaac Bannan but it is unclear if this is the present house or an earlier house to site. This building is one of a number of interesting late-nineteenth century houses in this part of County Longford.