coastguard station

End-of-terrace three-bay two-storey coastguard officer's house, built 1864, having two-stage lookout tower to north-east corner and lean-to extension to side (east). Pitched slate roof with limestone copings to eastern gable, rendered chimneystack, limestone eaves course and cast-iron rainwater goods. Hipped slate roof with overhanging eaves to watchtower, having cast-iron rainwater goods. Roughcast rendered walls with dressed limestone plinth and quoins throughout. Shallow batter base to watch tower surmounted by dressed limestone stringcourse. Square-headed window openings with limestone sills and raised render reveals throughout, having six-over-six pane timber sliding sash windows. Fixed uPVC framed window to ground floor of rear elevation and side (east) elevation of lean-to extension. Four-over-four pane timber sliding sash window to lower stage of watch tower. Tooled limestone balconies/window boxes to upper stage window openings of watchtower, having tooled limestone brackets and wrought-iron railings to timber casement windows. Square-headed door openings with raised render reveals to rear (south) elevation of house and side (east) elevation watchtower, having tooled limestone thresholds. Replacement uPVC and timber battened doors to house, having timber battened door to watchtower. Enclosed yard to rear (south) with rubble stone sheds and enclosing wall.

Forming part of a long terrace, which comprises the former coastguard station, this group has played a significant role in the local maritime heritage. Set overlooking the sea, close to the road, it is notable feature. The length of the terrace indicates the number of men who were required to man the station, the more substantial end houses indicate the higher status of the officers in charge, while the watch tower is a reminder of the surveillance and defensive function of the station. The coastguard was armed and so was a potential weapons source for insurgents. The coastguard was established in 1831 as part of the customs service and became part of the Admiralty in 1857. Built in the 1860s, this coastguard station forms one of a number which were built in Cork harbour to monitor the movements of foreign warships, enforce custom and excise, and implement British law in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.