Survey Data
Reg No
31306002
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Artistic, Historical, Social
Previous Name
Pontoon Hotel
Original Use
Hotel
Historical Use
Hunting/fishing lodge
In Use As
House
Date
1807 - 1838
Coordinates
120507, 303616
Date Recorded
24/11/2010
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Detached three-bay two-storey hotel, extant 1838, on a symmetrical plan with three-bay two-storey side elevations. In alternative use, 1870. Sold, pre-1911. "Improved", ----, producing present composition to accommodate continued private residential use. Hipped slate roof on a U-shaped plan with clay ridge tiles, rendered chimney stacks on axis with ridge having stepped capping supporting terracotta or yellow terracotta tapered pots, and cast-iron rainwater goods on cut-limestone eaves retaining cast-iron octagonal or ogee hoppers and downpipes. Tuck pointed coursed or snecked rubble stone walls with cut-limestone flush quoins to corners. Square-headed central door opening approached by flight of eight drag edged tooled cut-limestone steps with drag edged tooled cut-limestone block-and-start surround framing glazed timber panelled double doors having overlight. Square-headed window openings with cut-limestone sills, and drag edged tooled limestone ashlar voussoirs framing six-over-six timber sash windows having exposed sash boxes. Interior including (ground floor): central hall retaining carved timber surrounds to door openings framing timber panelled doors; and carved timber surrounds to door openings to remainder framing timber panelled doors with carved timber surrounds to window openings framing timber panelled shutters on panelled risers. Set in landscaped grounds with hedge boundary to perimeter centred on wrought iron-detailed flat iron gate.
Appraisal
An hotel erected by Richard Bingham (1764-1839), second Earl of Lucan, representing an important component of the early nineteenth-century built heritage of Pontoon with the architectural value of the composition, 'a small comfortable Inn for the accommodation of strangers' (Fraser 1838, 343), confirmed by such attributes as the deliberate alignment maximising on panoramic vistas overlooking Lough Cullin; the compact near-square plan form centred on a "sparrow pecked" doorcase demonstrating good quality workmanship, albeit one partly concealed by a later glasshouse-like porch; and the diminishing in scale of the openings on each floor producing a graduated visual impression. Having been well maintained, the elementary form and massing survive intact together with substantial quantities of the original fabric, both to the exterior and to the interior, thus upholding the character or integrity of an hotel having subsequent connections with a succession of gamekeepers employed by the Lords Lucan including Michael Roche (----), 'Game Keeper' (NA 1901); and domestic staff employed by the Lords Clanmorris including John Shine (----), 'Butler' (NA 1911).