Tavraun House

Detached three-bay two-storey farmhouse, extant 1895, on an L-shaped plan with single-bay two-storey projecting end bay. Occupied, 1901; 1911. Renovated, ----. Hipped slate roof on an L-shaped plan with clay ridge tiles, paired rendered central chimney stacks having stepped capping, and replacement uPVC rainwater goods on timber eaves boards on rendered cut-limestone eaves. Rendered walls bellcast over rendered plinth. Segmental-headed central door opening in square-headed recess with timber mullions on step threshold supporting timber transom, and rendered "bas-relief" surround framing replacement timber panelled door having sidelights below overlight. Paired square-headed window openings centred on square-headed window opening (first floor) with dragged cut-limestone sills, and rendered "bas-relief" surrounds framing replacement uPVC casement windows replacing one-over-one timber sash windows. Interior including (ground floor): central hall retaining carved timber surrounds to door openings framing timber panelled doors, staircase on a dog leg plan with turned timber balusters supporting carved timber banister terminating in volute, and carved timber surrounds to door openings to landing framing timber panelled doors centred on carved timber surround to window opening framing timber panelled shutters on panelled risers; and carved timber surrounds to door openings to remainder framing timber panelled doors with carved timber surrounds to window openings framing timber panelled shutters on panelled risers. Set in landscaped grounds with margined limestone ashlar piers to perimeter having cut-limestone pyramidal capping.

A farmhouse representing an integral component of the later nineteenth-century domestic built heritage of County Mayo with the architectural value of the composition, one potentially retaining the basis of a house sold (1879) by George Francis O'Grady (d. 1882) 'of Tavrane County Mayo and Rathgar-road County Dublin (NUIG), suggested by such attributes as the deliberate alignment maximising on scenic vistas overlooking landscaped grounds; the compact plan form centred on a restrained doorcase; and the very slight diminishing in scale of the openings on each floor producing a feint graduated visual impression. Having been well maintained, the elementary 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 the openings has not had a beneficial impact on the character or integrity of the composition. Furthermore, adjacent outbuildings (extant 1895); and a walled garden (extant 1895), all continue to contribute positively to the group and setting values of a self-contained ensemble occupied (1901) by Sir Henry Francis Doran CE (1856-1928), 'Inspector Congested Districts Board for Ireland' (NA 1901); and (1911) by Francis Bourke (----), 'Farmer' (NA 1911).