Rathcoursey House

Detached U-plan seven-bay two-storey multi-period country house, dated 1773, comprising three-bay two-storey wing to north, built c. 1640, remodelled and extended with seven-bay two-storey west wing dated 1773, now forming front (west) elevation with three-bay flat-roofed front porch, and with three-bay two-storey south wing added to rear (east) elevation of west wing, built c. 1830, and with single-bay two-storey staircase return with hipped artificial slate roof to centre of rear elevation. Now also in use as guest house. Pitched and hipped artificial slate roofs with rendered chimneystacks and cast-iron rainwater goods. Rendered walls with rendered recesses to front porch and cut limestone date plaque to south elevation of west wing. Square-headed window openings with cut limestone sills with timber sliding sash windows having six-over-three panes to first floor west elevation and six-over-six panes to ground floor west elevation, timber casement windows with pivoting overlights and glazed timber panelled double-leaf doors with traceried overlight to front porch. Segmental-headed openings with one-over-one pane timber sliding sash windows south, east and north elevations of south wing, and to east elevation of west wing. Square-headed openings with timber casement windows to first floor south elevation of north wing, one-over-one pane timber sliding sash windows to south and east elevations of north wing and two-over-two pane timber sliding sash windows to north elevation of north wing. Round-headed opening with one-over-one pane timber sliding sash window with margin panes to staircase return. Square-headed openings with timber battened doors to north elevation of south wing and south elevation of north wing and elliptical-headed opening with half-glazed timber panelled door to south elevation of south wing. Double-leaf wrought-iron gates to site entrance.

A very interesting country house retaining fabric spanning four centuries. The number of different façades and variety of window types provide evidence to the multi-period construction. The small casements date from the seventeenth century, the small pane Georgian windows to the main elevation have unusual catches rather than weights for opening, while the large panes to the south elevation became possible in the nineteenth century as technological advancements meant glass became more affordable. The date plaque, naming James Tyne Smyth as the eighteenth century owner is an unusual and valuable addition. It is contextualised by a number of demesne features, including outbuildings, walled garden with bee boles, still in use as orchard, and gate lodge.