Survey Data
Reg No
15401301
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Artistic
Original Use
House
In Use As
House
Date
1853 - 1855
Coordinates
252591, 261905
Date Recorded
20/11/2004
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Detached three-bay two-storey country house, built c.1854, with projecting single-bay pedimented breakfront and a projecting single-storey ashlar limestone Doric porch to centre of entrance front (south). Shallow hipped natural slate roof with heavy ashlar limestone eaves cornice and two centrally located moulded ashlar limestone chimneystacks with terracotta chimney pots over. Rendered walls with strip pilasters to corners of main building and to breakfront. Projecting ashlar limestone plinth to base. Square-headed openings with cut stone sills and six-over-six pane timber sliding sash windows. Central square-headed doorcase, behind projecting Doric porch, with timber panelled door. Doorcase flanked by timber sash windows/sidelights with margin glazing and reached by flight of cut limestone steps. Set back from road in extensive mature grounds to the northwest of Delvin. Complex of single and two-storey rubble limestone outbuildings with pitched natural slate roofs to rear (north). Main entrance gates (15401303) and attendant gate lodge (15401302) to the south.
Appraisal
An attractive middle-sized country house of balanced proportions, which retains its early form and character. It represents a late example of a country house built in a classical style. This house was built to designs by the renowned architect John Skipton-Mulvany (1813-1870) for Elizabeth Busby between 1853 and 1855, replacing an earlier house on the same site. This earlier house was the property of a Capt. Brabazon O'Connor in 1837 (Lewis 1837). A number of outbuildings to the rear appear to predate the existing house and my be associated with this earlier structure. The present structure forms the centrepiece of an important collection of structures within the Gigginstown Demesne, along with the gate lodge (15401302) and gates (15401303) to the south and the fine complex of rubble limestone outbuildings to the north.