Survey Data
Reg No
14402403
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Technical
Original Use
Outbuilding
In Use As
Outbuilding
Date
1790 - 1810
Coordinates
282743, 268669
Date Recorded
22/01/2003
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Extensive collection of single-, two- and three-storey domestic and agricultural outbuildings, c.1780, arranged around a courtyard to the north of Ardbraccan House. Mainly constructed of roughly coursed limestone with roughcast render. Hipped natural slate roofs with clay ridge tiles and cast-iron rainwater goods. Finely carved stone surrounds and stone sills to most window and door openings. Door and window openings are generally round-headed with loop hole openings to first floor on north and east ranges. Carriage archway with carved stone surrounds located centrally to north range. Timber sash windows on most ground floor window openings and timber battened doors to first floor, indicating that the first floor was used for storage. Stable block has round-headed openings with brick surrounds. Timber louvred vent to roof of stable block suggests that upper floor of this structure was used to store grain. Single-storey woodshed built of ashlar limestone with dressed stone segmental arches links stable block to north range. Another range of outbuildings located to the south of the house. A dome-shaped icehouse, built c. 1800, is located to the south of the outbuilding complex. The icehouse is lined internally with brick with a square opening to the roof. Rubble stone entrance porch with brick segmental-headed arch and cast-iron gate. Site covered with vegetation to provide insulation.
Appraisal
Very interesting and finely built collection of domestic and agricultural outbuildings associated with Ardbraccan House. They display a high level of architectural design which is unusual for a collection of outbuildings. The appearance of these simple structures is enhanced by the high quality workmanship of the carved stone surrounds to the openings and the carriage arch and by the retention of original features such as the slate roof, timber sash window and louvred vent. These outbuildings form an important group of demesne related structures with the main house, the entrance gates and the gate lodge.