Survey Data
Reg No
15502048
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Artistic, Historical, Social
Original Use
Prison/jail
Historical Use
Hospital/infirmary
In Use As
Town/county hall
Date
1805 - 1810
Coordinates
304413, 122178
Date Recorded
06/07/2005
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
County Gaol complex including: Detached seven-bay two-storey gaol block, built 1807-9, on a symmetrical plan with single-bay two-storey pedimented projecting end bays; single-bay (two-bay deep) two-storey central return (south) on a projecting half-octagonal plan. In alternative use, 1908-18. Renovated, 1993, to accommodate continued alternative use. Hipped slate roof on a U-shaped plan with pitched (gable-fronted) slate roofs (end bays); half-octagonal slate roof (south), clay ridge tiles, and cast-iron rainwater goods on cut-granite eaves retaining cast-iron downpipes. Part repointed coursed rubble "Old Red Sandstone" walls on lichen-spotted cut-granite chamfered cushion course on plinth with cut- or hammered "Old Red Sandstone" flush quoins to corners (end bays) supporting lichen-spotted cut-granite monolithic pediments; part repointed coursed rubble "Old Red Sandstone" walls (south) with cut- or hammered "Old Red Sandstone" flush quoins to corners. Square-headed central door opening approached by "perron" of six cut-granite steps with cut-granite step threshold, and cut-granite Gibbsian surround centred on triple keystone framing replacement glazed timber double doors. Square-headed window openings (ground floor) with cut-granite sills, and cut-granite block-and-start surrounds centred on keystones framing replacement aluminium casement windows. Square-headed window openings (first floor) with cut-granite sills, and cut-granite block-and-start surrounds framing replacement aluminium casement windows. Square-headed window openings in segmental-headed recesses (end bays) with cut-granite sills, and cut-granite monolithic surrounds framing replacement aluminium casement windows. Lunette window openings (first floor) with cut-granite sills, and block-and-start surrounds centred on keystones framing cast-iron bars. Square-headed central window openings (south) with cut-granite sills, and cut-granite block-and-start surrounds centred on keystones framing replacement aluminium casement windows. Set in shared grounds.
Appraisal
A gaol block erected to designs attributed to Sir Richard Morrison (1767-1849) of Dublin (Parliamentary Papers 1808 xiii) representing an important component of the built heritage of County Wexford with the architectural value of the composition, one 'consist[ing] of a centre and two wings [with the] interior contain[ing] 58 sleeping-cells [and] 12 day-rooms' (Lewis 1837 II, 710), confirmed by such attributes as the symmetrical footprint centred on a Gibbsian doorcase demonstrating good quality workmanship; the construction in a ruby-coloured "Old Red Sandstone" offset by silver-grey granite dressings not only demonstrating good quality workmanship, but also producing a pleasing two-tone palette; the diminishing in scale of the openings on each floor producing a graduated visual impression; and the monolithic pediments embellishing the roofline. Having been well maintained, the form and massing survive intact together with quantities of the original fabric: however, the introduction of replacement fittings to most of the openings has not had a beneficial impact on the character or integrity of a gaol block forming part of a self-contained ensemble (including 15500044 - 15500046; 15502049) making a pleasing visual statement in Spa Well Road.