Togherstown House

Detached three-bay two-storey over basement house, built c.1814 possibly incorporating the remains of an earlier house c.1700, having single-bay single-storey wings to either side (east and west), added c.1835, and an ashlar limestone single-bay enclosed Doric entrance porch to the centre of the main elevation (south) having a Doric conservatory over. Return to rear with modern conservatory to the west elevation. Pitched natural slate roof with overhanging eaves having cut stone corbels and cast-iron rainwater goods with decorative cast-iron lion motifs. Raised cut stone verges and ashlar limestone chimneystacks to the gable ends of the main body of the building and the side wings. Rendered walls over plinth course with raised quoins to the corners of the main building. Cement rendered finish to side wings. Square-headed window openings having cut limestone surrounds with scallop detail, hoodmouldings over and cut stone sills. Eight-over-eight pane timber sliding sash windows to main body of building and tripartite Wyatt-style windows to side wings having ornate glazing to side panels. Square-headed doorcase to projecting porch having glazed timber double doors. Timber windows with margin glazing, separated by Doric pilasters, to conservatory over porch. Set back from road in extensive mature grounds to the west of Loughanavally. Main entrance gates to the southwest and former entrance gates to the southeast, each comprising a pair of moulded limestone gate posts on octagonal plan supporting cast-iron double gates. Rubble limestone boundary walls. Segmental-headed integral carriage arch with dressed limestone voussoirs to the west side of the house gives access to complex of outbuildings to the rear (north). Cut stone bellcote over carriage arch.

An unusual house retaining much of its historic character. The Classically-detailed porch and scalloped dressings around the openings contribute significantly to its architectural interest. Togherstown House, once known as The Lodge, occupies the site of an earlier house built at the turn of the eighteenth century by Thomas Magan (d. 1710) who was Commissioner of Supply for County Westmeath (1695-8) and later High Sheriff of County Westmeath (1705). Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738), the renowned blind harpist, visited the house (c.1738) and composed "Morgan Magan" for the then owner. Togherstown House later passed into the ownership of the Dillon family and it is believed William Thomas Dillon (d. 1870) employed John Benjamin Keane (d. 1859) to extend the property with wings whose Wyatt-style openings show curious hybrid Classical and neo-Gothic detailing.