Survey Data
Reg No
22901814
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Artistic, Historical, Social
Original Use
Country house
In Use As
Country house
Date
1771 - 1799
Coordinates
269277, 104604
Date Recorded
21/08/2003
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Detached seven-bay two-storey country house, extant 1799, on an E-shaped plan with pair of single-bay (single-bay deep) two-storey returns centred on single-bay (single-bay deep) two-storey return (west). Occupied, 1901; 1911. Hipped slate roof on an E-shaped plan behind parapet with ridge tiles, rendered chimney stacks having chamfered capping supporting terracotta or yellow terracotta octagonal or square profile tapered pots, and concealed rainwater goods retaining cast-iron octagonal or ogee hoppers and downpipes with cast-iron rainwater goods (west) on rendered eaves retaining cast-iron downpipes. Rendered walls with moulded rendered cornice to parapet. Bisected segmental-headed central door opening with threshold, and doorcase with engaged Doric columns on plinths supporting open bed pediment on "dosserets" framing timber panelled double doors having fanlight. Square-headed flanking window openings with "bas-relief" monolithic surrounds framing timber casement windows. Square-headed central window opening (first floor) with sill, and concealed dressings framing four-over-four timber sash window. Square-headed window openings with sills, and concealed dressings framing six-over-nine (ground floor) or three-over-three (first floor) timber sash windows. Interior including (ground floor): central hall retaining carved timber surrounds to window openings framing timber panelled shutters with carved timber surrounds to door openings framing timber panelled doors, and plasterwork cornice to ceiling; and carved timber surrounds to door openings to remainder framing timber panelled doors with carved timber surrounds to window openings framing timber panelled shutters on panelled risers. Set in landscaped grounds with limestone ashlar piers to perimeter having urn finial-topped ogee capping supporting wrought iron double gates.
Appraisal
A country house representing an important component of the late eighteenth-century domestic built heritage of County Waterford with the architectural value of the composition, one erected by Sir Joshua Paul (1748-99) on the occasion of his marriage (1771) to Sarah Gun (d. 1824), confirmed by such attributes as the deliberate alignment maximising on panoramic vistas overlooking Woodstown Strand; the elongated plan form centred on a Classically-detailed doorcase showing a simple radial fanlight; the dramatic diminishing in scale of the openings on each floor producing a graduated visual impression with the principal "apartments" defined by a polygonal bow; and the parapeted roof. Having been well maintained, the elementary form and massing survive intact together with substantial quantities of the original fabric, both to the exterior and to the interior where contemporary joinery; chimneypieces; and plasterwork refinements, all highlight the artistic potential of the composition. Furthermore, an adjacent stable complex (----); and a distant gate lodge (----), all continue to contribute positively to the group and setting values of an estate having historic connections with the Paul family including Sir Joshua Christmas Paul (1773-1842); Sir Robert Joshua Paul (1820-98), 'Baronet late of Ballyglan County Waterford' (Calendars of Wills and Administrations 1898, 402); Sir William Joshua Paul (1851-1912), 'Baronet late of Ballyglan County Waterford' (Calendars of Wills and Administrations 1912, 532); and Captain Sir Robert Joshua Paul (1883-1955).