Hope Castle — Castleblayney

Two-storey U-plan stable complex, built c.1799, associated with Hope Castle, having pedimented seven-bay central block flanked by six-bay forward returning blocks, latter with pedimented front gables, and fourth side formed by entrance pavilion dated 1865 and flanking railings. Partially collapsed pitched roof with fire-damaged fibre-cement slate covering to sawn common rafter structure, with rolled clay ridge and sandstone verge skews. Roughly squared rubble limestone walls to internal elevations. Square-headed window openings with brick dressings to first floor and ashlar sandstone to ground floor, with centrally pivoted timber windows. Main block facade has arcade of three-centred arch carriage openings with ashlar sandstone surrounds. All openings have protective metal coverings. Pediments have square limestone string course and raking skews, oculi with brick surrounds. Squared rubble limestone walling to front elevations, and uncoursed rubble to rear elevations, much weather-struck pointed in cement, with punched sandstone quoins and brick dressings to square-headed window openings which have stone sills except on smooth cement rendered part of west elevation beside late twentieth-century lean-to extensions where windows have cast concrete sills. Entrance pavilion is pedimented single-storey two-bay structure with pitched slate roof having stone skews and cornice holding cast-iron rainwater goods, squared rubble limestone walls with sandstone plinth and block-and-start quoins and dressings, blind round-arch brick-filled openings to side elevations, and three-centred arch cast-iron gated entrances to front and rear elevations. Pediment has limestone string course and raking gable skews with carved stone plaque having Hope family emblem and 1865 date carved in relief. Rubble limestone plinth wall with cut-stone copings to each side of pavilion supports cast-iron railings.