Kingscourt Library

Attached late Victorian six-bay two-storey former parish hall, built 1888, with off-centre projecting gabled two-storey porch. Pitched slate roof with crested terracotta ridge tiles, limestone coping, stepped red brick chimneystacks to gable ends with saw-tooth collars and clay pots, terracotta finial to apex of porch, carved limestone kneelers to gable end walls and to entrance porch, replacement rainwater goods. Rubble stone walls with limestone quoins and deep moulded red brick cornice, red brick block-and-start quoins to porch. Plaque to front elevation wall reads ‘St. Mary’s Hall AD1888 J Flood P.P’. Segmental-headed window openings with red brick reveals and stone sills. Windows comprising original two-pane top timber sash and replacement lower casement sections. Round-headed door opening in ground floor of porch with red brick reveals and arch, plain glazed fanlights over replacement timber doors, having limestone thresholds and jamb-stones. Recent concrete steps to either side of porch with rendered side walls providing access to recent first floor doorways.

The former parochial hall stands at a prominent location on a side street close to Market Street. The steep roof and simple but asymmetrical composition reduce its sense of scale and soften its appearance as a public building. This is reinforced by the use of a building volume similar to that of the houses and shops along the main streets of Kingscourt. The contrasting colour of the finishes and fine detailing contribute to the aesthetic character of the street.