Hope Castle

Detached three-bay single-storey house with dormer attic, built c.1880, with full-height gabled projecting bay with and canted bay window to front (north-west) elevation, lower block to north-east end, and full-height gabled projecting bay to rear elevation. Gabled dormer windows. Enclosed yard to rear. Pitched tiled roofs having decorative terracotta ridge tiles, decoratively carved timber bargeboards with finials, and brown brick chimneystack with red brick band. Coursed rubble stone walls, having smooth render to bay window. Square-headed window openings having red brick surrounds, and replacement uPVC windows. Loop openings to north-east and north-west gables, having gauged red brick surrounds. Tudor-arch door opening having red brick voussoirs, and recent timber door. Cut-stone boundary wall enclosing rear yard and outbuildings having square-headed window and door opening with red brick surrounds to rear elevation. Recent garage to rear. Disused tennis court to north-east. Garden defined by dressed stone retaining wall, forming ha-ha. Situated on southern shore of Lake Muckno.

This house is one of a number of structures set in Concra Woods and associated with the Hope Castle Estate. Although recently refurbished, it retains its original form and scale. The decorative bargeboards make this building picturesque and the form, with projections and a lower section, is interesting. It has a picturesque open lakeside setting yet the enclosing wall to yard and the ha-ha provide subtle definition. Historic maps (1908) show two pheasantries adjacent to the house.