Smithstown House

Detached three-bay two-storey tenant farmhouse, built 1745, on a rectangular plan; three-bay two-storey rear (north) elevation. In alternative use, 1864. Occupied, 1901; 1911. Renovated, 1988. Disused, 2011. For sale, 2013. Replacement pitched profiled fibre-cement tile roof centred on pitched (gabled) profiled fibre-cement tile roof, concrete ridge tiles, cement rendered chimney stacks having concrete capping supporting yellow terracotta tapered pots, and uPVC rainwater goods on timber eaves boards on cement rendered cut-limestone eaves. Creeper- or ivy-covered replacement cement rendered walls. Hipped square-headed central door opening with drag edged dragged cut-limestone block-and-start surround framing replacement timber panelled door having sidelights. Square-headed central window opening (first floor) with segmental window opening (gablet), creeper- or ivy-covered drag edged dragged cut-limestone sills, and concealed dressings framing replacement timber casement windows. Square-headed window openings with creeper- or ivy-covered drag edged dragged cut-limestone sills, and concealed dressings framing replacement timber casement. Interior including (ground floor): central hall retaining carved timber surrounds to door openings framing timber panelled doors, staircase on a dog leg plan with timber "match stick" balusters supporting carved timber banister terminating in volute, and carved timber surrounds to door openings to landing framing timber panelled doors; and carved timber surrounds to door openings to remainder framing timber panelled doors with carved timber surrounds to window openings. Set in unkempt grounds.

A tenant farmhouse erected by the Palmers of Palmerstown House (see 31301415; NUIG) representing an important component of the domestic built heritage of County Mayo with the architectural value of the composition confirmed by such attributes as the compact rectilinear plan form centred on a Gibbsian-like doorcase demonstrating good quality workmanship in a silver-grey limestone; the somewhat disproportionate bias of solid to void in the massing compounded by the uniform or near-uniform proportions of the widely spaced openings on each floor; and the "lunette"-lit gablet embellishing a high pitched roof once showing a slab-like "Lackan Stone" or "Mayo Slate" finish (Ruane 1996 I, 39). Having been reasonably well maintained, the form and massing survive intact together with quantities of the original fabric, both to the exterior and to the interior: however, the introduction of replacement fittings to most of the openings has not had a beneficial impact on the character or integrity of a tenant farmhouse having historic connections with Arthur Pugh (1788-1845) of Lissadrone House (Lewis 1837 II, 95, 507); and the Wood family including James Wood (----), 'Farmer' (NA 1901; NA 1911).