Survey Data
Reg No
21803006
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Artistic, Historical, Social
Previous Name
Bruff Constabulary Barrack
Original Use
RIC barracks
Historical Use
Garda station/constabulary barracks
In Use As
Apartment/flat (converted)
Date
1860 - 1880
Coordinates
162814, 136267
Date Recorded
22/11/2007
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Detached five-bay three-storey over basement former Royal Irish Constabulary barracks, built c. 1870, now in use as private housing. Comprising two-bay projecting end bay to front (east) elevation and two-bay two-storey over basement block to south with gable-fronted porch to front elevation. Hipped slate roof having rendered chimneystacks, render bracketed eaves and cast-iron rainwater goods. Pitched slate roof to porch. Roughcast rendered walls with render stringcourses. Camber-headed openings having painted stone sills, render block-and-start surrounds and six-over-six pane timber sliding sash windows. Square-headed opening to basement, rear (west) elevation with limestone sill, render block-and-start surround with six-over-six pane timber sliding sash window. Square-headed openings to basement, rear elevation having render surrounds, fixed windows and cast-iron sill guards. Round-headed opening to rear elevation with nine-over-six pane timber sliding sash window and render surround. Camber-headed opening to porch having render block-and-start surround and glazed overlight over timber panelled door. Flight of limestone steps to entrance having rendered walls. Square-headed openings to rear with replacement glazed timber doors. Camber-headed opening to north elevation with render block-and-start surround and glazed overlight over timber battened door. Stepped profile segmental-headed limestone carriage arch having cut voussoirs. Four-bay two-storey outbuilding to west having hipped slate roof. Snecked limestone walls with roughly dressed limestone quoins. Square-headed openings having red brick block-and-start surrounds, limestone sills and replacement timber casement windows. Square-headed opening with red brick block-and-start surround and replacement timber battened door. Pair of cut limestone square-profile piers to east having carved caps. Roughly dressed limestone boundary walls with limestone copings.
Appraisal
This former barracks was built following a local uprising and, at one time, accommodated sixteen policemen, station sergeant, district inspector and his family. It is one of three barracks, built to similar designs in the locality; the others are located in New Pallas Grean and Tipperary town. According to local history, the building played a key role during the War of Independence, when the Free Staters seized it and placed a machine gun on the roof and monitored traffic passing through the town. It continued in use as a police station until 1997. The barracks substantially retains it original form including salient features such as the slate roof and the render details. The well cut limestone carriage arch, outbuilding and gates enhance the composition of the site.