Survey Data
Reg No
13008018
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Artistic, Social
Previous Name
Longford Cavalry Barracks
Original Use
Prison/jail
In Use As
Building misc
Date
1800 - 1840
Coordinates
213015, 275767
Date Recorded
08/09/2005
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Detached four-bay single-storey former military prison, built c. 1820, now in use as outbuilding. Pitched graded natural slate roof (in diminishing courses from apex) with red brick chimneystack and cast-iron rainwater goods. Metal vents to the west end of roof. Dressed snecked limestone walls. Square- and segmental-headed window openings with red brick block-and-start surrounds and stone sills. Three-over six timber sliding sash window with wrought-iron horizontal bars, and fixed metal frame windows. Square- and segmental-headed entrance openings with red brick block-and-start dressings. Timber battened doors and overlights, with wrought-iron horizontal bars. Situated with Sean Connolly Barracks, to the north end of the complex, and to the north of Longford Town centre.
Appraisal
This modest structure was originally constructed as a military prison. The wrought-iron bars to the window openings (some now removed), the small window openings to the west end and the metal vents to the roof are indicative of its original use. The contrast between the gray limestone masonry and the red brick surrounds to openings helps to create an interesting visual contrast to the exterior. This structure was probably built as part of a major phase of construction at the barrack complex between 1808 and 1843. It forms part of a group of related structures within the Sean Connolly Barracks complex (13008016 - 20) that together represents an important element of the architectural heritage of the area and is of considerable social and historical importance to County Longford. Sean Connolly Barracks is named after Brigadier Sean Connolly, of the Longford Brigade, who was fatally wounded in action in1921 by British forces during the War of Independence.