House in Ardballymore, County Westmeath

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Detached five-bay single-storey vernacular house, built c.1820, having a central single-bay flat-roofed entrance porch to main elevation and with recessed bays to either end. Single-bay lean-to outbuildings attached to either gable end (east and west). Steeply pitched corrugated metal roof with a projecting eaves course, raised verges to either gable end and with three smooth rendered chimneystacks. Cast-iron rainwater goods to the main elevation, replacement to the rear. Roughcast rendered walls over rubble stone construction with square-headed window openings with stone sills and two-over-two pane timber sliding sash windows. Square-headed window opening to the side of projecting porch. Square-headed doorway with replacement glazed timber door to front face of porch. Set back from road within own grounds to the southwest of Horseleap.

A charming example of a single-storey vernacular house, which retains its early form and fabric. The form of picturesque structure is slightly unusual in that the end bays to the main body of the building are slightly recessed and this lends this particular vernacular house a distinctive appearance. This could indicate an attempt by the original builders to introduce a feature adopted/copied from a more formal architectural tradition to this structure, or simply indicate that this building was extended to either end at a subsequent date. The steeply pitched form of this roof suggests that it originally had a thatched cover. Single-storey buildings of this type were once a ubiquitous feature of the Irish countryside but have become very rare in recent years, making this an important survival. This building is amongst the most appealing of its type in south Westmeath and is a worthy addition to the vernacular heritage of Westmeath.

From the Buildings of Ireland (National Inventory of Architectural Heritage) record 15403702

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Maker not stated on source page, www.dreamstime.com
National Inventory of Architectural Heritage
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Maker not stated on source page, pl.pinterest.com
Maker not stated on source page, www.geograph.ie

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