Survey Data
Reg No
13402723
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Artistic
Original Use
Gates/railings/walls
In Use As
Gates/railings/walls
Date
1840 - 1880
Coordinates
219641, 255417
Date Recorded
27/07/2005
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Gateway serving Newcastle House (13402709), built c. 1860, comprising a central vehicular entrance having dressed limestone gate posts (on square-plan) with tooled margins, cruciform-plan gabled/pedimented capstones and decorative cast-iron gates. Central gateway flanked to either side (east and west) by pedestrian entrances having dressed limestone gate posts (of same design as central gate posts) and cast-iron gates. Pedestrian entrance flanked by sections of curving sections of dressed ashlar limestone quadrant plinth walling with decorative cast-iron railings terminated by dressed limestone gate posts. Cut stone wheel guards (on circular-plan) to either side of central gate posts. Set slightly back from road at start of long straight approach avenue to Newcastle House (13402709) from the southeast. Attendant gate lodge (13402722) adjacent to the northeast.
Appraisal
This fine gateway was formerly the main entrance to the important Newcastle House (13402709), and creates a suitably grand impression on entering this important estate. The shafts of the gate posts are carved from single blocks of limestone and are notable examples of mid-nineteenth century craftsmanship. The highly ornate cast-iron gates and railings are of high aesthetic merit and are among the most intricate of their type still extant in County Longford. This gateway is located at the start of a long straight approach avenue to Newcastle Demesne, the seat of the Harman family (from c. 1700) and subsequently of the King-Harman family from c. 1850. The approach avenue to the house is lined with lime trees and is reputedly one old Irish mile in length. This gateway may have been erected by Laurence King-Harman (1816 - 1878), who inherited Newcastle House c. 1850. This gateway forms a part of a pair of related structures along with the attendant gate lodge (13402722) to the northeast, and part of a wider group of structures associated with Newcastle House (13402709).