Gateway (present location) in Peppardstown

In improved pasture, on the W side of a tertiary road, on a W-facing slope. A semi-circular arched gateway (dims. Wth 2.29m; H 3.3m; D 0.88m) defined by well-cut limestone jambs and voussoirs (H at W-end 2.92m; H at E-end 1.84m) with punch dressing on all visible surfaces and a long jamb on the W side has a plain margin with two rows of punch tooling and slightly cruder punch dressing within this border. Both sides have curvilinear hanging eyes of cut and dressed stone and squared spud stones, which appear to be in situ. A pair of double leaf, wrought iron gates are currently utilising both the spuds and hanging eyes.The threshold, consisting of a large rectangular roughly cut stone and some smaller stones, is roughly level with the ground on the N side but is raised above the ground on the S side where it rests on several courses of walling. The gateway is within a wall (dims. L 8.51m; H 3.55m; T 0.9m) of roughly coursed limestone rubble, at either end of which there are well-cut and dressed quoins. According to local tradition, this gateway which was never used and is contemporary with Peppardstown House which lies c. 300m to the S. The gateway is of 16th/early 17th century date and is likely to have been originally incorporated in a bawn. The gateway was presumably moved from its origin location and re-erected as an entrance feature for Peppardstown House. Peppardstown House is a multi-period building with the earliest portion to the rear, but this appears to be of 18th century date, with the front portion dating to the 19th century. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 August 2011