House - 17th century

The National Monuments Service's description

Built by the Evans family who were granted the land following the Cromwellian confiscations (Carrigan 1905, vol. 3, 217). The house dates to c. 1675 according to the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (buildingsofireland.ie), Carrigan (1905, 217) dates it to, 'some time previous to 1708' and O'Kelly (1969, 23) cites 1716 as the construction date. Bence-Jones (1978, 166) described this as, 'A very important late C17 house. Of 2 storeys over a basement; "U"-shaped, the 2 wings projecting on either side of the entrance front and each having 2 bays in its end. High, sprocketed roof on bracket cornice. Brick chimney stacks with recessed panels. Front prolonged by screen walls with niches and large rusticated arches. Good quoins. Later pilastered porch. 6 bay garden front, the 2 outer bays on either side breaking forward. Single storey entrance hall, with stairs in separate room at side of hall. Very fine chimneypieces, notably one of grey Kilkenny marble with a scroll pediment. The house was demolished in fairly recent years'.
The house was demolished in the 1950s and a hospital built in the grounds in 1959 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilcreene_Orthopaedic_Hospital; viewed 22 September 2020). According to Craig (1973, 106), 'a very fine late-17th century chimney-piece' (KK019-102----) taken from Kilcreen House and built into Kilcreen Lodge which is c. 430m to the NE.

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 22 September 2020

References

Carrigan, Rev. W. 1905 (Reprint 1981) The history and antiquities of the diocese of Ossory, 4 vols. Kilkenny. Roberts Books and Wellbrook Press.

O'Kelly, O. 1969 (Reissue 1985) The place-names of County Kilkenny. Kilkenny.

Bence-Jones, M. 1978 Burke's Guide to Country Houses: Volume 1 Ireland. London. Burke's Peerage Ltd.

Craig, M. 1973 Buildings of architectural interest in Co. Kilkenny. An Foras Forbartha. Unpublished report. Dublin.