Country house

The National Monuments Service's description

Fragmentary remains of house, indicated on 1842 OS 6-inch map as rectangular structure (long axis E-W), named 'Mountnorth Court (in ruins)', with two wings free-standing at right angles on either side of S elevation. Main house no longer survives except for remains of basement wall with shallow brick-arched recesses (H. 1.1m; D c. 0.18m). Ruined ivy-clad shell of W wing survives, walls rise from shallow plinth the top of which level with window sills: rectangular in plan (long axis N-S): W elevation 6-bays wide, 1-storey; narrow S elevation (facing house) of cut-limestone ashlar, 2-bays wide. By 1905 OS 6-inch map, E wing (long axis N-S) replaced by long rectangular structure (long axis E-W) which survives as residential 2-storey house of 19th-century appearance built of ashlar limestone construction reusing stone from earlier house: entrance front 5-bay, central door with block and start surround surmounted by wide pediment; known as 'Steward's House'. House shown in this vicinity on Down Survey (1655-6) barony map. Smith described house here in 1750 (Smith 1750, vol. 1, 319) as 'square building with two wings...fronting the house is a noble canal well stocked with fish.' House was already a ruin 'for many years' in 1837 (Grove White 1905-25, vol. 4, 118).

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 4: North Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2000). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009