Survey Data
Reg No
13402736
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural
Original Use
Building misc
Date
1800 - 1840
Coordinates
217614, 256283
Date Recorded
28/07/2005
Date Updated
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Description
Detached single-bay three-storey building/structure associated with Clooncallow House (13402716), built c. 1820, having flight of cut limestone steps serving doorway at first floor to northeast elevation. Hipped or pitched natural slate roof, now collapsing. Roughcast lime rendered finish over random rubble limestone construction. Square-headed window openings to northwest elevation with tooled cut limestone sills, fittings now gone. Window opening at ground floor level now blocked. Square-headed door openings to ground (southeast) and first floors (northeast) with timber battened doors. Remains of painted plasterwork at ground floor level to interior. Located to west of Clooncallow House (13402716) and to the southeast of Ballymahon.
Appraisal
Although now out of use and damaged, this unusual structure survives in relatively good condition and retains much of its early form and character. It is sited within the grounds of Clooncallow House (13402716) and forms part of a collection of related structures along with the main house, the outbuildings (13402715) to the north, the walled garden to the northwest, and the gateway (13402717) and gate lodge to the south/southwest. Its original function is difficult to interpret but the remains of decorative plasterwork to the interior at ground floor level suggests that it may have had some domestic function associated with the main house, perhaps as a Summer house. Its unusual tower-like form hints that it may have been built as a folly, although it would be unusual to find a folly so close to the main house. Its form is reminiscent of a dovecote (and its location close to the outbuildings) but there is little evidence to either the interior or exterior to suggest this. It could be a feature that predates the present house, that was later modified to fulfill a new function or to act as a folly. This enigmatic structure is an interesting addition to the built heritage of the local area, and is an interesting feature in the rural landscape to the southeast of Ballymahon.