Survey Data
Reg No
30343037
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural
Original Use
Gate lodge
Date
1800 - 1810
Coordinates
185189, 204290
Date Recorded
02/09/2009
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Pair of detached octagonal-plan gate lodges, built c.1805, inside outermost gateway of Portumna Castle. That to east is roofless and partly ruinous, with rubble limestone walls, ogee-headed door and window openings with roughly dressed limestone surrounds and tooled heads, no fittings. Building to west largely ruinous, with cut-stone sills to window openings. Doorways of both buildings face each other across avenue leading to Castle.
Appraisal
Though unroofed and partially ruinous these modest gate lodges form an integral part of the formal entrance to Portumna Castle. Possibly to the designs of Sir Richard Morrison who designed the adjacent entrance gateway, they are Gothic Revival in style, their octagonal plan adding interest. The ogee-headed window and door openings reflect an interest in archaeological detailing to give the lodges the appearance of much older structures. The lodges and adjacent entrance gateway are located at the focal point of the avenue which leads south to the inner courtyard and main entrance door of the Castle. They form part of a nationally important group with the castle, gates and other garden features.