Culmore House,

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A 2 storey red brick 5 bay wide Georgian house, symmetrically composed with basement extending over the area of the house and raising the ground floor so that a broad flight of steps bridges over the basement area to the entrance. From the entrance avenue the edifice gives the impression of a large cubic pile but in fact this is only apparent from the south west as the house has an L- plan. From the rear the house is 3 floors high with a sunken courtyard and a 1½ storey coach house projecting from the main house. In the internal angle of the L protrudes a quadrant of the staircase pierced with windows. On either side of the entrance door semi-circular round headed niches are lined with brickwork, but the half hemisphere top is painted. These niches are echoed on the first floor with windows so that the centre bay has a group of 3 windows. The west facade has 5 bays, where the basement windows are blanked off with exception of one. Indeed several windows on the main floors are also blank with 2 in the lounge blocked up internally whilst the window sashes are maintained externally. This was done to avoid the excesses of window tax.

Externally the walls are faced with handmade red brick in Flemish bond with crude flash pointing. Below basement cill level walls are of random schist. Roofs have natural regular slates and many chimney stacks. Window sashes, timber, painted white sliding, 12 panes on ground floor, basement six panes, first floor nine panes. Main staircase window 15 panes. Guttering and downpipes in plastic. Entrance has high fanlight squared to match windows. There is a single wrought iron balustrade on either side of the entrance steps.

The coach house has a high semi-circular opening and contains a loft. The outhouses are detached from the dwelling. The house is screened from the Seacoast Road by fine mature trees.

Historical information

The house was built in c1805 which date is inscribed on a brick on the west gable and has been unaltered since. The present owner's great grandfather (a builder) was advised to demolish the house but his wiser counsel prevailed. Probably built by John Martin who was in residence c 1835.

References:

O S Memoirs of Ireland Vol 25
Samuel Lewis, A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland 1837 Vol II

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A fine imposing Georgian house in local brickwork on secluded site, well preserved.