Shannagh More

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A two-storey/ four-bay house in random granite rubble. The natural slated roof is hipped with deep spreading eaves and a granite chimney at either end (that at right is aligned along the ridge). All the windows have metal frames with granite voussoired heads and concrete cills.

The south(front) elevation is asymmetric. A porch extends from the main entrance (which is off centre and on the third bay from left). It has a flat concrete roof supported on two stone pillars, splayed to resemble elephants’ legs. The ground floor windows on either side are set in segmental bays, each with a curved natural slate roof, and have seven lights with leaded transoms. The left bay has a triple paned window, also with leaded transoms, and this arrangement is repeated on the four equi-spaced first floor windows.

A protruding balcony of similar construction and style to the porch dominates the west elevation, which faces onto the driveway. It is accessed by French windows from the fist floor, and has a metal balustrade and metal fire escape to the ground at rear. There is a small window in this gable on the ground floor.

The north elevation is dominated by a later extension at left which is joined to the main block by a short two-storey link. However, the original windows and stonework of the main block survive unaltered, although the latter has been strap pointed. There are four metal casement windows at first floor level. The extension is two-storeyed, cement rendered and has a monopitched roof.

On the east elevation at ground floor is a flat roofed rectangular bay with French doors. To its right is a tripartite window, and there are also two such windows on the first floor.

Notable features associated with the house include a water reservoir to the west, which supplied a turbine for generating electricity for lighting. This was housed in a small single-storey building at south-west. This building has random granite walls and vaulted stone roof. Both the turbine and generator have been removed.

The gateposts at the main road are of rusticated granite blocks with projecting pyramidal caps; they have been reset, probably when the sight lines from the avenue were improved. In a niche along the boundary wall a short distance south of the entrance gates is a sub-rectangular dressed-granite trough. Its water feed-spout is set in a raised rectangular granite panel inscribed ‘1917’. It seems the original boundary walls were reduced in height to improve the sight lines for this property’s current owners.

Historical information

The house was built in the early 1920s for the Newell Family within the grounds of their existing house (demolished in the 1980s). Its style – in particular the spreading eaves and elephant leg columns - are said to reflect that of a Ceylon tea-planter’s house. The house was successively occupied by the Tutims, Prentices, and the Southern Education and Library Board (from 1977). The house is shown on the 1938 OS 6” map, but not on the 1920 edition. It does not appear in the 1900-23 valuation revision books.

Primary Sources:
1.Warden at Shannagh More.
2. PRONI- OS 6/3/49/3 (1920 OS map)
3. PRONI-OS 6/3/49/4 (1938 OS map)
4. PRONI- VAL 12B/19/19F (1900-23 valuation book).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

This well-proportioned house is notable for its unusual architectural style – in particular the use of rubble granite, overhanging roof, and splayed columns to porch and balcony. However, its value is seriously compromised by the internal alterations and the rear elevation is marred by the modern extension.