Survey Data
Reg No
20912421
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Artistic, Historical, Social
Original Use
Country house
Date
1700 - 1720
Coordinates
158856, 44644
Date Recorded
25/06/2009
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Detached five-bay two-storey country house, commenced 1702, completed 1720, having central pedimented gable-fronted breakfront to front (south) elevation, five-bay return to rear (north) and later extension to side (west). Now ruinous. Slate hanging and render to chimneystacks and rendered rubble stone gable to return. Tooled limestone eaves course throughout, having tooled limestone cornice to pediment. Rubble limestone walls with tooled limestone plinth and quoins. Diminishing square-headed window openings with tooled limestone sills and surrounds throughout. Oculus window openings to rear elevation having roughly cut limestone surrounds. Square-headed door opening to front (south) elevation, having tooled limestone block-and-start surround, lintel and keystones. Timber panelled door surmounted by overlight. Round-headed door opening to side (west) elevation, having rubble stone voussoirs and timber battened door. Square-headed door opening to side (east) elevation having tooled limestone surround and lintel. Carriage house, servants quarters and outbuildings, gate lodge, arboretum and various related structures within grounds. Gates to front and rear.
Appraisal
Built by the Kearney family between the years 1702 and 1720, with changes and additions being made until 1740, this building was originally a wing of a substantial country house. The main house was never started due to financial reasons and this, one of the flanking buildings, was subsequently turned into the main house. The money saved by not building the main house was spent on improving the gardens and grounds. The house was passed down through the female line, staying within that lineage until 1950 when it was sold to the Land Commission. Although now derelict the house retains much of its original form and character seen in the tooled limestone detailing and its grand scale. The retention of many of the original outbuildings and the extensive gardens gives further evidence to the wealth and status of this former country house.