Survey Data
Reg No
31939004
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Artistic
Original Use
House
In Use As
House
Date
1840 - 1860
Coordinates
187636, 265446
Date Recorded
14/08/2003
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Detached L-plan five-bay two-storey country house, built c.1850, with return and hipped addition to rear, and porch to front elevation. Hipped slate roof with ashlar chimneystacks and profiled cast-iron rainwater goods. Rendered walls with limestone string course separating ground and first floors. Square-headed window openings with stucco architraves, tooled limestone sills and timber sliding sash windows. Dormer windows to addition. Timber panelled door with stucco surround having canopy supported by console brackets, accessed by limestone steps. Doric columns to angles of porch and round-headed window openings, with stained-glass windows. Two-storey coach house to north of rear yard with pedimented central breakfront crowned by bellcote. Hipped slate roof with stone chimneystack, random coursed limestone walls with quoins, bull's eye windows and carriage arch opening. Two-storey outbuilding to west of rear yard with pitched slate roof and random coursed limestone walls. Walled garden to east of house accessed through cast-iron gate, with two-stage tower to northeast corner of garden. Simple wrought-iron gate flanked by carved stone gate piers and pedestrian turnstile. Decorative cast-iron entrance gates flanked by rendered piers set in squared limestone boundary wall.
Appraisal
Essex Lawn House is elegantly appointed. Standing on the periphery of Roscommon Town, it forms a notable landmark on the approach. The limestone string course and dentil detailing to the front elevation are an appealing and restrained adornment while the more unreserved entrance porch further embellishes the house. The coach house and walled garden are both notable in their form and architectural detailing and enhance the setting of the house. The decorative cast-iron gates provide a suitably elegant entrance to this fine residence.