Survey Data
Reg No
15402532
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Social, Technical
Original Use
Signal box
In Use As
Unknown
Date
1920 - 1930
Coordinates
232895, 246035
Date Recorded
30/09/2004
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Freestanding two-bay two-storey signal box, built or rebuilt c.1925. Pitched natural slate roof with overhanging eaves with decorative timber brackets to gable ends and a single red brick chimneystack to the centre, behind roof ridge. Constructed of machine-made brick to ground floor with timber cladding over to first floor observation level. Square-headed window openings to first floor with replacement windows and segmental-headed openings to ground floor openings having remains of cast-iron windows. Square-headed doorway with timber door. Stairs to first floor door opening now removed. Located adjacent to Castletown Station (15402530).
Appraisal
A pleasing small-scale railway structure representing an important element of the transport and civil engineering heritage of County Westmeath. Skillfully designed, with red brick ground floor, timber superstructure and decorative brackets to the gables, this building is ornate and is of architectural merit. The structure retains many original features including decorative bargeboards, timber cladding and cast-iron window frames. This signal box probably dates to c.1925 and replaced an earlier signal box at the same location. This box is of a standard design introduced by the Midland and Great Western Railway Company c.1920 and is one of a number of similar structures in Westmeath. Many signal boxes of this type were constructed as replacements for boxes damaged or destroyed during the Civil War of 1922 – 1923, and it is quite likely that this was the case here at Castletown. This signal box is an interesting feature in the rural landscape and forms part of good group of associated structures at Castletown Railway Station.