Survey Data
Reg No
13402713
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Artistic
Original Use
Gates/railings/walls
In Use As
Gates/railings/walls
Date
1780 - 1820
Coordinates
218410, 256681
Date Recorded
27/08/2005
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Gateway serving a secondary entrance to Newcastle House (13402709), built c. 1800, comprising a pair of ashlar limestone gate piers (on square-plan) having moulded limestone plinths, and moulded stepped limestone caps surmounted by carved limestone ball finials. Wrought-iron double gates having inner sections of wrought- and cast-iron gates with cast-iron decorative finials. Gateway flanked to either side by curving sections of ashlar limestone walling having cut limestone coping and terminated to either side (northwest and southeast) by ashlar limestone gate piers (on square-plan) having moulded ashlar limestone plinths and stepped ashlar limestone capping. Entrance flanked to either side by sections of rubble stone boundary walling. Single-storey gate lodge (not in survey) to the northeast having elaborate cast-iron entrance porch. Located to the west of Newcastle House (13402709) and to the east of Ballymahon.
Appraisal
This fine gateway originally served as a secondary entrance to Newcastle House (13402709), the main entrance gates being located to the southwest (13402723) at the start of a long straight approach avenue to the main house. The gate piers are constructed using the highest quality of limestone masonry and act as a suitably impressive entrance to an important historic estate, the home of the Harman family from c. 1750 and subsequently of the King-Harman family. The simple but well-crafted gates and railings add further aesthetic interest to the roadscape to the east of Ballymahon. This gateway forms part of an extensive group of related structures associated with Newcastle House, and is an important element of the built heritage of the local area in its own right.