Survey Data
Reg No
31935001
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Artistic, Historical, Social, Technical
Previous Name
The Monastery
Original Use
Monastery
In Use As
House
Date
1850 - 1860
Coordinates
181003, 273324
Date Recorded
13/08/2003
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Detached seven-bay two-storey former Franciscan monastery, built c.1857, with projecting gabled end bays to front and rear elevations and crenellated three-stage tower to rear elevation. Vacated by the order of Franciscan monks c.1971 and now in use as a private dwelling. Pitched slate roof with rendered chimneystacks. Rendered walls with rendered quoins and date plaque and emblem of the order to front elevation. Niches to projecting gabled bays. Square-headed window openings with tooled stone sills and replacement timber casement windows. Square-headed door opening with timber panelled door and overlight. Former chapel in monastery located in south-west projecting end bay. Rendered entrance porch and decorative rose window to rear elevation wall. Outbuildings to rear yard now in use as artists studio. Shrine to the Virgin Mary at entrance gates.
Appraisal
Highlake House, formerly Highlake Monastery, employs an institutional architectural style. Set back from the road amongst tall trees, the crenellated tower alludes to the former function of the structure. The Franciscan monks played an important role in the small community of Ballymacurley, through the provision of a school for the district. Together the school and monastery form a notable group of structures.