James Stephens Barracks

Detached four-bay single-storey gate lodge, built 1803, on a corner site with single-bay single-storey recessed lower end bay to right. Pitched slate roofs with clay ridge tiles, cut-limestone coping to gables, and cast-iron rainwater goods on cut-limestone eaves. Coursed tooled cut-limestone walls with tooled cut-limestone quoins to corners. Square-headed window openings in round-headed recesses (forming part of 'arcade' with unpainted rendered infill, cut-limestone stringcourse to spring of arch, and tooled cut-limestone voussoirs) with painted shallow sills, and six-over-six timber sash windows. Square-headed door openings in round-headed recesses (forming part of 'arcade' with unpainted rendered infill, cut-limestone stringcourse to spring of arch, and tooled cut-limestone voussoirs) with cut-limestone steps, and tongue-and-groove timber panelled doors having overlights. Camber-headed window opening to end bay with cut-limestone surround incorporating voussoirs, and fixed-pane fitting having iron bars. Square-headed door opening to end bay with cut-limestone step, cut-limestone voussoirs, and fittings not discernible. Set in grounds shared with James Stephens (Kilkenny City) Military Barracks on a corner site.

A well-appointed modest-scale range incorporating distinctive attributes including a Classically-influenced blind arcade, and so on, all of which identify the architectural design aesthetic of the composition: fine detailing to the stone work displaying high quality craftsmanship further enhances the appeal of the site. Having been well maintained to present an early aspect the gate lodge makes a positive impression at the entrance to the grounds of the James Stephens (Kilkenny City) Military Barracks complex.