Church of Ireland Bishop’s Palace — Raphoe

Detached five-bay three-storey over basement (four storey over basement to north) former bishop’s palace, built c. 1636-37 and altered c. 1695, c. 1740 and c. 1822, having full-height salient towers (on square-plan) to each of the four corners having bartizan projections to parapets of outer corners towers to the north-east and south-east towers having corbelled cut sandstone bases. Now ruinous and out of use (since being burnt in fire in c. 1838). Originally a lower building with upper storey or stories added c. 1740. Crenellated brick parapets in brick with cut stone copings over (some now missing). Red brick chimneystack with remains of roughcast lime render over to the inner face of tower to the south-west. Rubble stone walls with remains of roughcast lime render with limewash over (visible in sections) to exterior. Tooled cut stone (sandstone?) cornice stringcourse to towers above second floor level and to north elevation of main body of building above second floor level. Cut stone stringcourse to base of parapet. Blind cut stone cross loop motifs to parapets of towers; cut stone loops to bartizan towers. Cut stone armorial plaques (see RMP (DG070-003009-/010-/011-) to three of the salient angled towers; foundation stone (a jamb stone) to basement window to the east face of the tower to the north-east inscribed ‘IO LES--LAEVS EPS RAPOT IMVM POSVIT LAPIDEM 17 MAIII 1636 SVPREMVM 19 AVG 1637 TRANS-LAT SVAE 5°’. Square-headed window openings with some surviving cut stone sills; window fittings now gone. Loop and cross loop openings to central bays to some elevations. Gun loops to towers at basement level and to inner faces of towers at first floor level, some now blocked. Square-headed doorway to the east elevation, added c. 1740, having cut stone Gibbsian block-and-start surround with architraves, cut stone Gibbsian keystone, and with cut stone triangular pediment over. Square-headed doorway to the north elevation at basement level with cut stone surround with chamfered jambs and lintel. Brick construction to interior at basement level; brick-lined fireplace at basement level; cross vaulted brick construction to tower to the south-west; brick arches to entrance passage to the north-east tower. Set back from road in elevated site to the east\south-east of the Diamond, Raphoe, and to the south-east of associated Church of Ireland cathedral (see 40833001). Gateway (see 40833033) and former gate lodge (see 40833050) to the north.