Survey Data
Reg No
14819264
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Historical, Social, Technical
Original Use
Turbine house
Date
1875 - 1885
Coordinates
205681, 204857
Date Recorded
31/08/2004
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Detached single-bay single-storey gable-fronted electric power house or turbine house, built c.1879. Now disused. Pitched tarred roof and timber battened walls. Windows to gable walls. Set on brick plinth with stone lined watercourse to south with sluice. Now disused. Structure now covered with timber canopy set to steel frame, erected by FAS in the 1990s. Turbine fittings still in place to interior.
Appraisal
This electric power house or turbine house is one of a group of structures associated with Birr Castle and latterly the town of Birr. Built by the fourth Earl of Rosse, it first supplied electricity to the castle and later it also served the town. Retaining much interior fittings, it is an interesting reminder of early electricity services. The switch for switching the electricity over to the town and back again is on display in Ireland's Historic Science Centre.