house

Detached five-bay two-storey house, built c.1800, having a single-bay flat-roofed entrance/windbreak porch to the centre of the main façade east and a five-bay single-storey outbuilding attached to the north end. Now out of use and derelict. Pitched corrugated metal roof with cast-iron rainwater goods and three red brick chimneystacks, one to the centre and one to each gable end. Lime roughcast rendered walls having square-headed window openings, irregularly placed, with cut stone sills and the remains of multi-pane timber sliding sash window. Ruled-and-line rendered finish to porch. Square-headed opening to porch having timber panelled door. Single-storey outbuilding to the north end with a pitched corrugated metal roof, rubble stone walls and square-headed openings. Set back from road in own grounds (located in a bend in the road) with rubble limestone wall to road frontage with cement coping over. Main entrance gates to the east comprising a pair of cut limestone gate posts supporting wrought-iron gates.

An interesting and substantial two-storey vernacular house, which retains much of its early form, character and fabric. This two-storey structure was originally thatched and retains its early lime render. Two-storey vernacular houses of this type were always uncommon in rural Westmeath and extremely rare today, making this an important survival. The irregularly spaced openings are a distinctive feature and is a typical element of the extended vernacular tradition in Ireland. The survival of the outbuildings and enclosing walls and gates adds significantly to the quality of this vernacular composition. The site of this structure, located in a bend in the road, is quite unusual and makes this a very prominent structure in the rural landscape to the southeast of Mullingar. This building, which may be of considerable antiquity, is a valuable addition to the vernacular heritage of Westmeath. Although now in a poor condition a sensitive restoration would make this building a very welcome addition to the landscape.