Portnason House — Ballyshannon

Detached three-bay two-storey over basement house, built c. 1820 and altered c. 1870, having projecting single-bay single-storey porch to the centre of the front elevation (south), added c. 1860, and with two-storey over basement returns and extensions (added c. 1870) to the rear (north). Now also in use as a guest house. Glazed entrance porch to the rear elevation (north). Hipped natural slate roofs with central valley having a central pair of ashlar sandstone chimneystacks (aligned at a right angle to the front elevation) with terracotta pots over, slightly projecting ashlar eaves course supported on paired brackets, and with surviving cast-iron rainwater goods. Flat roof to porch having balustraded parapet over. Smooth rendered ruled-and-lined walls with raised render pilaster strip with recessed central panel to either end of main of main elevation (east and west). Plinth course to ground floor of rear extension/return. Engaged render/stucco fluted Composite pilasters to corners of porch having plinths to base with recessed rectangular panels, and with continuous moulded eaves cornice over having mutules. Square-headed window openings with cut stone sills, six-over-six pane timber sliding sash windows, raised rendered surrounds, and having moulded corbels to sills with central rendered panels between beneath ground floor openings. Various timber sliding sash windows to side and rear elevations; paired four-over-over pane timber sliding sash windows at basement level to side elevations; square-headed window openings to side elevations of porch (east and west) having margin glazing bars. Central round-headed door opening to front face of porch having moulded render surround, render hoodmoulding over with decorative label stops, timber panelled double doors, and with plain overlight. Doorway flanked to either side by square-headed sidelights having fixed pane windows and with moulded render stringcourse over. Doorway reached up flight of steps over basement level. Plinth wall over basement level to front elevation having wrought-iron guard railings over. Original interior features include marble fireplaces, carved stone staircase, timber-panelled doors and window shutters, detailed plaster cornice works and vaulted ceiling to basement level and altered former ballroom. Set back from road in extensive mature landscaped grounds to the south-west of Ballyshannon town centre and adjacent to the south of the south bank of the River Erne. Complex of outbuildings (see 40910765) to the rear (north), gate lodge to the south (see 40910767), former gate lodge to the south-east (see 40910768), and with remains of walled garden (see 40910766) to the east. Former quay (not investigated) to the east jutting out into the River Eske, rubble stone boundary walls to site.