Survey Data
Reg No
40910402
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Historical
Original Use
Country house
In Use As
Country house
Date
1760 - 1780
Coordinates
194158, 370103
Date Recorded
08/11/2007
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Detached four-bay three-storey country house, built c. 1770, having later three-bay single-storey cut stone entrance porch/portico to the centre of the main elevation (west), added c. 1795. Hipped natural slate roofs (purple slates) with overhanging eaves, plain ashlar eaves course, cast-iron rainwater goods, and with a central pair of rendered chimneystacks with cut stone detailing. Roughcast rendered walls with projecting cut stone plinth course, and with projecting ashlar block-and-start quoins to the corners of the front elevation (west). Monolithic astylar ashlar limestone piers/pillars supporting plain entablature over to porch. Square-headed window openings having cut stones sills, and with hornless six-over-six pane timber sliding sash windows to the ground and first floor levels and three-over-three pane timber sliding sash windows at second floor level. Timber panelled shutters to interior. Recessed square-headed doorways to the side elevations of porch (north and south) having timber panelled doors with cast-iron latticed sidelights and overlight, added c. 1900. Timber panelled door behind porch set in moulded architraved ashlar limestone doorcase. Staircase to interior remodelled, c. 1860; Neoclassical plasterwork (c. 1794) and lugged five-panelled doors to interior. Set back from road in extensive mature landscaped and parkland grounds to the east of Ballintra. Earlier formerly detached house attached to the south (see 40910401), now forming wing to present house, and complex of outbuildings (see 40910413) and remains of walled gardens to the south-east.
Appraisal
This large and well-proportioned Georgian country house retains its early form and character. Its visual expression and integrity are enhanced by the retention of the majority of its salient fabric including natural slate roofs and timber sliding sash windows. The rather austere and imposing block-like front elevation is enhanced by the ashlar eaves course and the bold ashlar quoins to the corners, while the windows diminish in size towards the eaves in a typically classical manner. The unusual but well-detailed later porch, which was probably added in 1794 as part of alterations (mainly to the interior) by the architect Robert Woodgate (d. 1805), adds further interest and provides an attractive central focus to the main elevation. Woodgate had been supervising/overseeing the construction of Soane’s designs at Baronscourt, County Tyrone, for the Marquess of Abercorn between 1791 and 1793 – John Hamilton (see below) acted as a land agent for the Marquess in south County Donegal. The interior retains some interesting Neoclassical plaster work that was added c. 1794 by the plasterer James Lee, who Woodgate had brought with him from Baronscourt. The staircase was remodelled c. 1860, possibly at the same time that the usual doorways with latticed surrounds were added to the porch. This fine and imposing country house was originally built for John Hamilton (1735 – 1811), the son of John Hamilton who built the earlier house (see 40910401) adjoining to the south c. 1697, which the present main house was built to replace (and incorporates as a service wing). The architectural style of the house is perhaps a little old fashioned for a house of its type in date, and it could be considered a functional rather than ambitious design. The exact building date of the present main house is not known but it was probably built shortly after 1755 when John inherited the estate following the death of his older brother James. It is interesting to note that the estate remains in the Hamilton family to this day. This building forms part of a group of related structures at Brownhall, and is an important element of the built heritage and social history of south County Donegal.