Portnason House

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.

This handsome, well-proportioned and substantial house/country house, originally of late Georgian/early nineteenth-century date, retains much its early form and character. The retention of salient fabric such as natural slate roof and timber sliding sash windows adds to its appeal and authenticity. This house was originally a typical example of the well-proportioned late Georgian gentleman’s seat with central entrance, window openings reducing in scale to the eaves in the classical manner, and shallow natural slate roof with paired central chimneystacks, examples of which can be found throughout the country (such as with many rectories for example). This building is one of a number of substantial detached private residences in the Ballyshannon area dating the first decades of the nineteenth century, a period when Ballyshannon was a prosperous regional market centre with a thriving port, and it may have been originally built by a local merchant. The house was later extensively modified during the Victorian period (c. 1870) with the addition of the elaborate balustraded entrance porch to the main elevation that has lavish render/stucco detailing, particularly the engaged Composite pilasters to the corners and the moulded eaves course, and by the construction of the extensions to the rear. The surrounds to the window openings were also added at this time, which now further helps to enforce the Victorian appearance of this composition. This building was possibly originally built by a Christian or Christopher Allingham who owned the land and the former salt works marked on this site in 1824 and1836 (Pigot’s Directory and Ordnance Survey first edition six-inch map) to the north. The Allingham’s owned much of the land is this area in the 1830s and in the 1850s (Tithe Allotment Book, Griffiths Valuation). There are references to the Allingham family of Portnason from the mid-eighteenth century (an Edward Allingham died at Portnason in 1765) so the present house may have replaced an earlier one somewhere in the immediate environs. Portnason was probably the home of a Mrs. Frances Sheils in 1846, and later a John R. Reynolds in 1881 (both Slater’s Directory, possibly leased). It may have been the residence of a Robert St. G. Johnston in 1876. This building forms the centrepiece of a collection of related structures along with the 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. It is one of the more important elements of the architectural heritage of the Ballyshannon area, and is an interesting feature, occupying attractive mature grounds, along the main approach road into the town from the west.