Survey Data
Reg No
31209091
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural
Original Use
House
Historical Use
Office
Date
1700 - 1838
Coordinates
114594, 290116
Date Recorded
21/11/2008
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Terraced three-bay two-storey civil servant's house[?], extant 1838. Renovated to accommodate alternative use. In use, 2008. Disused, 2011. One of a terrace of five. Replacement pitched artificial slate roof with ridge tiles terminating in cement rendered chimney stack having moss-covered stepped capping supporting yellow terracotta pots, and cast-iron rainwater goods on timber eaves boards on rendered cut-limestone eaves retaining cast-iron downpipe. Rendered, ruled and lined walls with rusticated rendered piers to ends. Square-headed central door opening with tooled cut-limestone threshold, and drag edged dragged cut-limestone block-and-start surround centred on keystone framing timber panelled door having overlight. Square-headed window openings with rendered cut-limestone sills[?], and rendered surrounds framing replacement timber casement windows replacing one-over-one timber sash windows. Interior including (ground floor): central vestibule retaining tessellated "quarry tile" floor, and timber boarded or tongue-and-groove timber panelled wainscoting supporting carved timber dado rail centred on door opening into entrance hall; and carved timber surrounds to door openings to remainder framing timber panelled doors with timber panelled shutters to window openings. Street fronted with concrete footpath to front.
Appraisal
A house erected as one of a terrace of five units (including 31209092 - 31209093) representing an integral component of the domestic built heritage of Castlebar with the architectural value of the composition suggested by such traits as the compact rectilinear plan form centred on a restrained doorcase demonstrating good quality workmanship; the slight diminishing in scale of the openings on each floor producing a feint graduated visual impression; and the high pitched roofline. Having been reasonably well maintained, the elementary form and massing survive intact together with quantities of the historic or original fabric, both to the exterior and to the interior: the introduction of replacement fittings to most of the openings, however, has not had a beneficial impact on the character or integrity of a house forming part of a neat self-contained ensemble making a pleasing visual statement in the streetscape.