Survey Data
Reg No
30409411
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural
Previous Name
Renmore Barracks
Original Use
Officers' mess
In Use As
Officers' mess
Date
1860 - 1900
Coordinates
131359, 225132
Date Recorded
01/02/2010
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Detached U-plan eleven-bay two-storey officer's mess, bult c.1880, comprising seven-bay block having projecting end bays with flat-roofed colonnade between end bays, and with further recessed three bays and terminated by projecting single bay. Rear of west end projects by several bays, with flat-roofed block between to re-entrant angle. Hipped slate roofs having red brick chimneystacks and cast-iton rainwater goods. Chimneystacks to east gable have slightly projecting breasts below eaves. Coursed snecked rusticated limestone walls with cut-stone plinth and sill courses. Rendered walling and cut-stone plinth to colonnade. Square-headed windows to first floor, paired to projecting front bays and to paired and tripled to rear, and segmental-headed to ground floor, tripled to front and rear east end bay and some further paired to rear, all with timber sliding sash windows, having six-over-six pane with cut-stone lintels to first floor and nine-over-nine pane with dressed stone voussoirs to ground floor, with some four-over-pane to rear elevations. Colonnaded section has round-headed central and flanking window openings, with recessed surrounds, tripartite six-over-six pane timber sliding sash windows with paned overlights and cut-stone sills, and glazed timber panelled double-leaf door with overlight and stone threshold. Building fronted by lawn, with yard to rear.
Appraisal
The officers' mess at Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa is a commodious building with many features of architectural appeal. The sober limestone appearance is enlivened by the sill courses and projecting bays which serve to break up the many façade and the variety of openings and window arrangements, and projecting chimneystacks adds interest. The retention of timber sash windows enhances this structure and its setting, at the north end of the barracks and looking out to sea, marks it out as a key building within the group.