Survey Data
Reg No
14943005
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Artistic
Original Use
Country house
In Use As
Country house
Date
1830 - 1840
Coordinates
214558, 191782
Date Recorded
23/08/2004
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Detached three-bay two-storey over raised basement country house in the Italianate style, built in 1839, by Thomas A. Cobden, architect, with portico to entrance and bow to south-facing side elevation. Two-storey five-bay range to north. Hipped slate roof with rendered chimneystacks, open eaves and cast-iron rainwater goods. Ruled and lined rendered walls with sandstone dressings including plinth, quoins and string courses. Square-headed window openings with sandstone architrave surrounds and timber sash windows. Rusticated ashlar portico with arched-openings contains round-headed door opening with sandstone surround, timber panelled double door and glazed fanlight. Door accessed up six sandstone steps. Walled garden to north-west of house.
Appraisal
Built in 1839 by the architect Thomas A. Cobden, Dungar House is an extraordinary mid nineteenth-century country house. Located east of Roscrea, the house displays a high degree of architectural detailing and embellishment in the bold ornate Italianate style. The former owners left this house and built a new home near the ruins of the old castle on the estate. The house was neglected but fortunately the present owners acquired the house before it fell into ruin and saved this valuable contributor to the architectural heritage of County Offaly. The walled garden is notable for its size.