Walton Lodge, BALLYSHEEN BEG, CLARE

Description

Detached three-bay two-storey house, c.1750, on a T-shaped plan; pair of single-bay (three-bay deep) two-storey returns (east). Replacement pitched artificial slate roof with pair of pitched artificial slate roofs (east), ridge tiles, rendered chimney stacks having stringcourses below capping supporting yellow terracotta octagonal pots, and uPVC rainwater goods on rendered eaves. Rendered battered walls on rendered chamfered plinth with rusticated rendered piers to ends. Segmental-headed central door opening with three cut-limestone steps, and concealed dressings framing replacement glazed timber door having sidelights below fanlight. Square-headed window openings originally in tripartite arrangement with cut-limestone sills, and concealed dressings framing replacement timber casement windows replacing six-over-six timber sash windows having two-over-two sidelights. Square-headed window openings (east) with cut-limestone sills, and concealed dressings framing replacement timber casement windows. Set in landscaped grounds with cut-limestone panelled pilaster-detailed piers to perimeter having ball finial-topped capping supporting cast-iron double gates. NOTE: Ballysheen House is given as the birthplace of George Perry (1780-1841). A report in The Spectator (4th July 1846) gives an account of an attack on 'Mr. George Walton of Ballysheen House...by three armed men dressed in women's clothes. One pointed a gun at Mr. Walton's breast; the gentleman seized hold of it; but he was immediately knocked down, and beaten on the head with the but-end of the gun. On the ruffians' departure, one cried out, "Take that! and keep your corn at home". Mr. Walton has not sent any corn to market this season; and this observation could only refer to a load of corn sent that morning by him to the Relief Committee of Six-mile-bridge' (The Spectator 4th July 1846, 1157). Ballysheen House was occupied (1856) by Major Robert Barnewall Walton (1828-1915) with Colonel Crofton Moore Vandeleur (1809-81) named as "Immediate Lessor" (Primary Valuation of Ireland). Walton renamed the property as Walton Lodge. The Limerick Leader advertised a clearance sale by auction (9th November 1929) and Walton Lodge was subsequently occupied by James Tuohy (1902-90) and Mary Tuohy (née Conlan) (1914-98).