Survey Data
Reg No
13901121
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Artistic
Original Use
Country house
In Use As
Country house
Date
1860 - 1880
Coordinates
296104, 298453
Date Recorded
14/07/2005
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Detached three-bay two-storey over basement house, built c. 1870, with pedimented breakfront and porch, two-bay two-storey wing to east. Hipped slate roof with overhanging eaves with timber brackets, lead ridging, yellow brick shouldered and corbelled chimneystacks, clay pots, moulded cast-iron gutters supported on timber eaves, circular and moulded cast-iron downpipes. Painted smooth rendered ruled-and-lined walling, plinth course, channelled quoins and cornice. Canted bay to west elevation, with dentil cornice and panelled parapet. Square-headed window openings, painted stone sills, painted timber one-over-one sliding sash windows, three-over-six cash windows to basement with wrought-iron protection railings, tripartite window to first floor south elevation recessed between flanking painted smooth rendered pilasters with painted timber one-over-one sliding sash windows flanked by painted panelled pilasters with console bracket and one-over-one sliding sash windows. East wing with six-over-six sliding sash windows. Entrance porch bridging basement, painted timber glazed and panelled double doors, sidelights and overlights, flanked by smooth rendered pilasters to porch supporting frieze and cornice, limestone steps lead to entrance, flanked by low walling with painted smooth rendered piers, chamfered corners. Segmental-headed arched opening to east elevation containing recessed square-headed door opening painted timber door with six raised-and-fielded panels surmounted by overlight. Ranges of outbuildings to east comprising pitched slate roofs, random rubble coursed walling, segmental and square-headed openings wit red brick surrounds. Ranges contain stable boxes. Yard with cobble stones. House set within extensive grounds accessed through painted octagonal stone piers surmounted by pyramidal railings with acorn finials.
Appraisal
Rathbrist House is a fine elegant building, possibly containing an earlier structure to the east. The most striking feature of the house is the pedimented entrance front, the symmetry proportion and detail that has been applied is outstanding. The ranges of outbuildings to the east are worthy of note and the overall complex plays a significant part in the architectural heritage of County Louth.