Survey Data
Reg No
31311035
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Historical, Scientific, Social
Previous Name
Hollymount Model Agricultural School
Original Use
School
Historical Use
Farm house
Date
1830 - 1840
Coordinates
126425, 267307
Date Recorded
04/01/2011
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Detached five-bay two-storey model agricultural school, built 1835-6; extant 1837, on a cruciform plan centred on single-bay full-height breakfront with single-bay two-storey recessed lower end bays; single-bay (single-bay deep) full-height central return-cum-water tower (east). Vacant, 1901. Occupied, 1911. Now disused. Pitched slate roof on a T-shaped plan on collared timber construction centred on hipped slate roof with rolled lead ridges, lichen-covered cut-limestone coping to gables with limestone ashlar chimney stacks to apexes centred on limestone ashlar chimney stack having stringcourses below capping supporting yellow terracotta tapered pots, and remains of cast-iron rainwater goods on dragged cut-limestone eaves retaining cast-iron octagonal or ogee hoppers and downpipes. Lime rendered walls over snecked limestone construction with benchmark-inscribed dragged cut-limestone "bas-relief" strips to corners. Square-headed central door opening with dragged cut-limestone "bas-relief" surround framing timber panelled door having overlight. Square-headed window openings with drag edged dragged cut-limestone sills, and dragged cut-limestone "bas-relief" surrounds framing remains of six-over-eight (ground floor) or four-over-six (first floor) timber sash windows having horizontal glazing bars. Interior in ruins including (ground floor): central hall retaining timber surrounds to door openings framing timber panelled doors; and timber surrounds to some door openings to remainder framing timber panelled doors with timber surrounds to some window openings framing timber panelled shutters. Set in unkempt grounds with rendered octagonal piers to perimeter having lichen-covered polygonal capping supporting replacement tubular steel "farm gate".
Appraisal
A model agricultural school 'established by the Mansion-House Relief Committee of 1822…on an acre of land given by [Thomas Spencer Lindsey JP DL (1790-1867) of Hollymount House]' (Lewis 1837 II, 67) representing an important component of the early nineteenth-century built heritage of south County Mayo with the architectural value of the composition, one 'of a more costly description than is necessary for the purpose…an ostentatious but useless building' (Binns 1837 I, 400), confirmed by such attributes as the symmetrical footprint centred on a shallow breakfront; and the diminishing in scale of the openings on each floor producing a graduated visual impression with those openings showing streamlined dressings demonstrating good quality workmanship. A prolonged period of unoccupancy notwithstanding, the elementary form and massing survive intact together with quantities of the original fabric, both to the exterior and to the interior, thus upholding much of the character or integrity of the composition. Furthermore, lengthy outbuildings (extant 1838); and a dishevelled "cottage" (extant 1894), all continue to contribute positively to the group and setting values of a self-contained ensemble having subsequent connections with a succession of tenants including Francis Laurie (d. 1859), 'Gentleman late of Kilrush Hollymount County Mayo' (Calendars of Wills and Administrations 1859, 90); James Simpson (d. 1898), previously of Cloonnagashel House (see 31311009); Charles Bingham Jennings JP (d. 1903) and Mary Elizabeth Jennings (d. 1903), 'late of Kilrush House Hollymount County Mayo' (Calendars of Wills and Administrations 1904, 224); and Martin Kelly (----), 'Professional Jockey' (NA 1911).