Castlebar District Lunatic Asylum

Detached forty seven-bay two- and three-storey lunatic asylum, built 1860-6; opened 1866, on a symmetrical plan comprising nine-bay two-storey central block centred on three-bay two-storey pedimented projecting breakfront with five-bay two-storey projecting "pavilions" centred on nine-bay three-storey wings. Extended, 1888-91. "Improved", 1914-5. Extended, 1934, producing present composition. "Restored", 1994-5, to accommodate alternative use. Hipped slate roofs centred on pitched (gable-fronted) slate roof with clay ridge tiles centred on limestone ashlar pedimented "cupola", red brick Running bond chimney stacks on chamfered cushion courses on red brick Running bond bases having stringcourses below cut-limestone cornice capping supporting terracotta pots, dragged cut-limestone "Cyma Recta" or "Cyma Reversa" coping to gable forming open bed pediment on paired consoles, and cast-iron rainwater goods on box eaves on "Cavetto"-detailed cornice retaining cast-iron downpipes. Part creeper- or ivy-covered tuck pointed coursed tooled hammered limestone walls on dragged cut-limestone chamfered cushion course on plinth with drag edged tooled hammered limestone flush quoins to corners. Square-headed (ground floor) or round-headed (first floor) window openings (breakfront) with drag edged dragged cut-limestone sills, and drag edged tooled hammered limestone block-and-start surrounds having stepped reveals framing eight-over-eight timber sash windows (ground floor) with six-over-eighteen timber sash windows (first floor) having fanlights centred on twelve-over-twenty four timber sash window having fanlight. Segmental-headed central door openings to "pavilions", timber doorcases with bull nose-detailed pilasters on drag edged dragged cut-limestone chamfered plinths supporting "Cyma Recta" or "Cyma Reversa" cornices on blind friezes, and drag edged tooled hammered limestone block-and-start surrounds having stepped reveals centred on keystones framing timber panelled doors having sidelights on panelled risers below overlights. Square-headed window openings with drag edged dragged cut-limestone sills, and drag edged tooled hammered limestone block-and-start surrounds having stepped reveals framing six-over-six timber sash windows. Square-headed window openings (wings) including some paired square-headed window openings with drag edged dragged cut-limestone sills, and dragged edged tooled hammered limestone surrounds framing six-over-six timber sash windows with some replacement timber or uPVC casement windows throughout. Set in landscaped grounds.