Ardlynn House, rectory in County Westmeath

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Detached three-bay two-storey over basement former rectory, built in 1813, with main doorcase to south side elevation. Now in use as a private house. Hipped natural slate roof with two smooth rendered chimneystacks to the centre, aligned parallel to the roof ridge, having terracotta chimney pots over. Roughcast rendered walls. Square-headed window openings with cut stone sills and Wyatt-style timber sash windows with decorative timber mullions to the main façade (west) and timber sliding sash windows to the south side elevation. Single three-over-six pane timber sliding sash window to the centre of the first floor on principal façade (west). Round-headed doorcase to the west end of south side elevation having cut limestone surround with fluted lintel, timber panelled door and a spoke fanlight over. Flight of six cut stone steps give access to entrance. Two-story outbuilding to the rear (east) having a hipped roof, roughcast rendered walls, square and segmental-headed openings to the ground floor and oculus openings over to first floor. Set back from road in extensive mature grounds to the south of Mullingar. Associated Church of Ireland church located a short distance to the south (15402618). Main entrance to the west, comprising a pair of cut limestone gate posts, supporting cast-iron gates, and rendered screen walls (on curved plan). Altered single-storey gate lodge located adjacent to gates (north).

This is a well-proportioned former rectory, of early nineteenth-century date, which retains its early form, character and most of its important early fabric. The form of this rectory is quite unusual in that the main doorcase is located to the south side elevation rather than to the centre of the entrance façade as is more commonly encountered. The fenestration pattern to the main façade suggests that it was originally intended to place the main doorcase here but why this never happened is difficult to ascertain. This fine doorcase to the south elevation is of an unusual design and is worthy of artistic merit. The Wyatt windows to the front façade are distinctive features that are typical of the period of construction. This building remains of particular importance in the locality for its original use as a Church of Ireland rectory, sponsored by the Board of First Fruits (c.1711-1833). Lewis (1837) records that this rectory was built in 1813, at an expense of £1055, of which £200 was a gift, and £500 a loan, from the Board of First Fruits. The robust and quite unusual outbuilding to the rear and the good quality cut limestone gate posts and cast-iron gates to the west complete the setting of this interesting composition, which constitutes an important element of the built heritage of the local area.

From the Buildings of Ireland (National Inventory of Architectural Heritage) record 15402611

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National Inventory of Architectural Heritage
Computer-made picture. It does not show this monument.
Oliver Dixon, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
Computer-made picture. It does not show this garden.
MookiePlays, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

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