Summer House

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

The structure occupies rising ground immediately to the south of the main house. It overlooks parkland and the view includes the Cuilcagh Mountains.

A garden feature with a steeply pitched thatched roof overgrown in parts with moss and other vegetation. At the front it rises as an ellipse above a series of short radiating logs that continue underside until reaching a triple-arched feature of increased width at the centre and with the spandrels infilled with further upright logs. The supports are formed of uncleaned logs with rudimentary cushion capitals.

The plan is semi-elliptical cut square at the front and is open to the elements, there are no windows or doors. Support for the roof is provided by a series of uncleaned logs infilled with panels of wattle appearance.

The forepart of the building consists of a raised step infilled with small stones laid in herringbone fashion and contained by a series of upright logs. Behind this feature a further series of upright logs fronts the main cobbled floor.

The exterior of the Summer House is dressed with coverings of heather held by mild steel rods stapled to small cleaned branches, two per panel.

Historical information

Garden buildings and follies were used as features to enhance the landscapes and add points of interest to the demesnes of mansions from early times. While building of Florence Court appears to have started around 1719 it was not until about 1780 that the site was landscaped by William King who had worked at Downhill and at Castle Coole.

At the time of writing Gallagher and Rogers drew attention to the existence of the cobbled foundations of the Summer House. It was thatched with peat sods and heather.

The structure does not appear on the OS map of 1834. It is indicated on the OS map of 1857.

References – Primary Sources

1. OS map, 1st edition 1834, Co. Fermanagh, sheet 32
2. OS map, 1st revision 1857, Co. Fermanagh, sheet 32

Secondary Sources

Lyn Gallagher and Dick Rogers, Castle, Coast and Cottage, 1986, page 60.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
F. Structural System
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Z. Rarity
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A garden feature sited to take advantage of the view and also its proximity to the main house.

The structure that makes use of local natural materials, such as thatch, timber and stone, integrates well into the demesne and enhances its environment to a significant extent.

The construction follows the tradition of the pattern books available at the time.