Survey Data
Reg No
15318020
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Artistic, Social
Previous Name
Middleton House
Original Use
Outbuilding
In Use As
Hotel
Date
1845 - 1855
Coordinates
235191, 243015
Date Recorded
28/09/2004
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Attached eight-bay two-storey service wing on L-shaped plan associated with Middleton Park House (15318019), built c.1850, having an advanced bay offset to the north side of the centre of the main façade (west) having a pedimented campanile over with wrought-iron weathervane. Now forms part of a hotel complex. Hipped natural slate roof with rendered chimneystacks having terracotta pots, a cut limestone eaves cornice with blocking course and cast-iron rainwater goods. Ruled-and-line smooth rendered walls with a projecting sill course at first floor level. Square-headed window openings with replacement fittings. Window openings to first floor set in segmental-headed recesses. Full-height round-headed arch to advanced bay having a recessed square-headed carriage arch with timber sheeted doors. Round-headed openings to each face of campanile having timber louvers. Attached to the north end of Middleton Park House (15318019). Located to the southeast of Castletown Geoghegan.
Appraisal
An elegant and well-proportioned Italianate-style service wing associated with Middleton Park House (15318019), which retains its early form and character. The form and styling of this service wing compliments that of the main house itself to the south, creating a coherent architectural entity. The campanile adds incident to the roofline and acts as a successful visual termination to this wing. This structure was built to designs by George Papworth (1781-1855), the architect of the main house. This substantial service wing provides an interesting insight into the extensive resources needed to run and maintain a substantial country house in Ireland during the nineteenth century. It forms part of an important collection of structures associated with Middleton Park House (15318019) and is a worthy addition to the built heritage of Westmeath in its own right.