Architecture and Heritage of Village of Castletownroche

The extent of buildings of architectural merit in the village of Castletownroche is detailed in the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage.  Here is a sample of some of the interesting structures in the heart of the village:-

The Close, Castletownroche, County Cork		20805001
	Reg. No. 20805001 Date 1780 – 1800 Previous Name N/A Townland CASTLETOWNROCHE County County Cork Coordinates 167772, 102552 Categories of Special Interest ARCHITECTURAL Rating Regional Original Use country house In Use As country house
Description Detached three-bay two-storey house, built c. 1790, having two-bay side elevations, single- and two-storey extensions to rear (north), and single-storey projecting porch to front (south) elevation. Evidence that house was originally L-shaped, north-west part being addition. Hipped slate roof having rendered chimneystack with terracotta pots. Pitched slate and flat felt roofs to rear extensions. Replacement uPVC bracket course and eaves cladding. Lined-and-ruled rendered walls to front and east elevations, with some to rear elevation. Exposed coursed limestone rubble walls to west and part of rear, with some red brick in English Garden Wall bond veining. Square-headed window openings, except for one with camber head to west elevation, all windows to front and side elevations of main block having two-over-two pane timber sliding sash windows with painted tooled stone sills, and having painted render sill course to first floor of front elevation. Windows in exposed walls have red brick surrounds. Replacement uPVC windows to rear. Porch has pitched slate roof and replacement uPVC glazing and door to panelled risers. Square-headed door opening to rear having half-glazed timber battened door with timber battened half-door in front. Courtyard of outbuildings to rear accessed through segmental archway to west, with red brick voussoirs in coursed and snecked limestone rubble wall, having double-leaf cast-iron vehicular gate. Outbuildings comprise six-bay single-storey east range with two-bay single-storey projection to north, and six-bay two-storey north range, with pitched slate and replacement flat roofs and coursed limestone rubble walls. North range has blocked elliptical arch to east end of front elevation of north range having yellow brick voussoirs and inserted square-headed window and door openings, and square-headed window openings to first floor having timber louvers to first floor with red brick surrounds. Square-headed door openings having timber battened doors with some timber battened half-doors. Rectangular-plan walled garden to east of house, with coursed limestone rubble walls and having cast-iron gateway from house garden. Cast-iron fountain to south of house. Laneway to south-west approaching house. Angled coursed limestone and sandstone entrance walls terminating in square-plan piers with double-leaf wrought-iron vehicular gate.Appraisal The classical fenestration and layout of this middle-sized house are enhanced by the retention of timber sliding sash windows, creating a sense of order and purpose. The charming setting, with good outbuildings, manicured lawns, Victorian cast-iron fountain, and walled garden add further to the significance of the ensemble. Riverview House, Doneraile Road, Castletownroche, County Cork 20805004 Reg. No. 20805004 Date 1850 – 1870 Previous Name N/A Townland CASTLETOWNROCHE County County Cork Coordinates 168276, 102540 Categories of Special Interest ARCHITECTURAL Rating Regional Original Use house In Use As house Description L-plan five-bay two-storey house, built c. 1860, with gabled breakfront and having lean-to two-storey single-bay addition to south end of rear elevation. Pitched slate roof with rendered chimneystacks and clay chimney pots. Painted smooth rendered walls. Square-headed window openings having replacement two-over-two pane timber sliding sash windows with painted tooled stone sills. Canted bay to south end of ground floor of front elevation with replacement timber windows. Square-headed entrance doorway with painted render surround, paned overlight and replacement timber door, with limestone steps. Coursed limestone rubble boundary walls terminating in square-plan piers with decorative garden gate with rendered square-plan piers with steps and decorative wrought-iron vehicular gates between rubble limestone piers.Appraisal This middle-sized Victorian house is distinguished by the gabled breakfront and canted-bay window. The house’s location at the top of a slight incline at the north end of Castletownroche gives it an imposing presence in the streetscape. 9 Doneraile Road, Castletownroche, County Cork 20805005 Reg. No. 20805005 Date 1800 – 1820 Previous Name N/A Townland CASTLETOWNROCHE County County Cork Coordinates 168294, 102507 Categories of Special Interest ARCHITECTURAL ARTISTIC Rating Regional Original Use house In Use As house Description End of terrace five-bay two-storey over half basement house, built c. 1810. Hipped slate roof with rendered chimneystacks and projecting eaves with replacement uPVC boards. Painted rendered walls with painted rendered plinth course and quoins, roughcast to north elevation. Square-headed window openings having painted tooled stone sills and one-over-one pane timber sliding sash windows, with remains of timber windows to basement. Segmental-headed entrance doorway having fluted Composite engaged columns supporting entablature, with dentils and concave archivolt having moulded enlarged dropped keystone. Double-leaf timber panelled door with panelled reveals, cast-iron door furniture, and divided fanlight, approached by limestone steps over basement area. Wrought-iron railings set on limestone plinths.Appraisal This classically proportioned Georgian-style house is distinguished by its fine Classical doorcase. The retention of timber sash windows adds to the interest of the house. Due to its height and massing, the building forms a key part of the streetscape, enhancing the appeal and charm of the area. 8 Doneraile Road, Castletownroche, County Cork 20805006 Reg. No. 20805006 Date 1820 – 1840 Previous Name N/A Townland CASTLETOWNROCHE County County Cork Coordinates 168296, 102498 Categories of Special Interest ARCHITECTURAL Rating Regional Original Use house In Use As house Description Attached three-bay two-storey house, built c. 1830, as part of pair with adjoining house to south. Pitched slate roof with rendered chimneystack and some cast-iron rainwater goods. Painted roughcast rendered walls with painted smooth rendered plinth course. Square-headed window openings having render surrounds and two-over-two pane timber sliding sash windows with painted sills. Square-headed door opening having render surround and timber battened door with cast-iron door furniture and rectangular overlight.Appraisal This house, one of a pair, has retained its timber battened door and sash windows. Its render detailing enhances the façade, adding interest to the streetscape and forms a pleasing contrast to the larger detached houses in the town. 7 Doneraile Road, Castletownroche, County Cork 20805007 Reg. No. 20805007 Date 1820 – 1840 Previous Name N/A Townland CASTLETOWNROCHE County County Cork Coordinates 168297, 102493 Categories of Special Interest ARCHITECTURAL Rating Regional Original Use house In Use As house Description Semi-detached three-bay two-storey house, built c. 1830, as part of pair with adjoining house to south. Pitched slate roof with rendered chimneystack and some cast-iron rainwater goods. Painted roughcast rendered walls with painted smooth rendered plinth course. Square-headed window openings having render surrounds and two-over-two pane timber sliding sash windows with painted sills. Square-headed door opening having render surround and timber battened door with cast-iron door furniture and rectangular overlight.Appraisal This house, one of a pair, has retained its timber battened door and sash windows. Its render detailing enhances the façade, adding interest to the streetscape and forms a pleasing contrast to the larger detached houses in the town. 6 Doneraile Road, Castletownroche, County Cork 20805008 Reg. No. 20805008 Date 1800 – 1820 Previous Name N/A Townland CASTLETOWNROCHE County County Cork Coordinates 168296, 102475 Categories of Special Interest ARCHITECTURAL ARTISTIC Rating Regional Original Use house In Use As house Description Detached three-bay two-storey house, built c. 1810, with castellated carriage arch to north end. Hipped slate roof with rendered chimneystacks and projecting eaves with replacement uPVC boarding. Roughcast rendered walls with smooth rendered painted plinth course. Square-headed diminishing window openings having painted tooled stone sills with six-over-six pane timber sliding sash windows. Round-headed door opening with fluted Doric-style engaged columns supporting stepped beaded entablature with spoked fanlight and timber panelled door, and approached by limestone step. Set back slightly from road with wrought-iron railings. Round-headed carriage arch to north, giving access to yard to rear, is set into roughcast rendered wall with crenellated parapet and has peck-dressed limestone surround with plinths and sheet metal gate.Appraisal This building projects out from the rest of the south side of Doneraile Road and thus has acquired prominence in the street. Its classical symmetry is emphasised by the fine doorcase with spoked fanlight and panelled door. The retention of timber sash windows enhances the building. Church of the Immaculate Conception, Chapel Road, Main Street, Castletownroche, County Cork 20805016 Reg. No. 20805016 Date 1845 – 1850 Previous Name N/A Townland CASTLETOWNROCHE County County Cork Coordinates 167985, 102209 Categories of Special Interest ARCHITECTURAL ARTISTIC SOCIAL Rating Regional Original Use church/chapel In Use As church/chapel Description Freestanding rectangular-plan Roman Catholic church, built 1848, burnt down and rebuilt to original plan in 1898. Comprising seven-bay nave having side aisles, single-bay single-storey porch to north-west corner, two-bay single-storey sacristy to south-east corner, and having recent flat-roofed addition to south. Slate roof, pitched to nave and sacristy and lean-to to side aisles, with decorative terracotta ridge tiles, cast-iron rainwater goods and having ashlar limestone bellcote with pointed arch bell opening, and limestone cross finials to gables. Some curved tooled stone brackets to eaves. Nave has coursed limestone rubble walls to north wall and to west half of south wall, with tooled limestone buttresses to north wall and west gable, and recent lined-and-ruled render elsewhere. Tooled bracket course and plinth course having some wrought-iron vents. Nave and sacristy have lancet window openings, east gable has triple lancet window and west gable has double-lancet window, both of latter flanked by lower lancets to side aisles. All windows having tooled chamfered surrounds and stained glass windows. Blocked pointed arch door opening to east end of north elevation, with rubbble limestone voussoirs. Quatrefoil detail to upper west gable. Pointed arch door opening to porch having replacement double-leaf timber doors. Pointed arch door opening to sacristy having timber panelled door. Geometric and encaustic tiled floor to interior. Double-leaf timber panelled doors to lobby. Pointed arch arcade with rendered square-plan columns having ogee-headed recesses to faces, and imposts. Timber stations of the cross and timber pews. Marble altar and side altars. Entrance gates have rendered square-plan piers with decorative single- and double-leaf wrought-iron gates. Detached three-bay two-storey presbytery to north-east, in church grounds, having gabled breakfront fronted single-storey gable-fronted porch, with hipped slate roof and rendered walls. Some priests’ graves to site.Appraisal This church is in use for regular worship and retains a strong social significance for the people of Castletownroche. Originally designed and built in 1848 by Reverend James Fitzpatrick and inspired by designs of Pugin, the church was burnt down in 1898 and rebuilt by Samuel Fynes to the original design and incorporating the original fabric, whilst stained glass from Watson’s of Youghal was added. The building’s complex architectural history is preserved in the clearly visible blocked window opening to the north-east corner and in the irregular buttressing. The retention of many features of the interior furthers the building’s heritage value. The grouping of church, priests’ graves and presbytery form a natural ecclesiastical focus to the west end of the town. The Through Stone, Main Street, Castletownroche, County Cork 20805018 Reg. No. 20805018 Date 1800 – 1820 Previous Name N/A Townland CASTLETOWNROCHE County County Cork Coordinates 168174, 102294 Categories of Special Interest ARCHITECTURAL Rating Regional Original Use house In Use As house Description Detached three-bay two-storey house, built c. 1810. Hipped slate roof with rendered chimneystacks. Painted roughcast rendered walls with smooth rendered quoins. Square-headed window openings having replacement uPVC windows. Elliptical-headed door opening flanked by engaged Ionic columns, supporting entablature with spoked fanlight and with archivolt above. Replacement uPVC door. Attached single-bay two-storey former coach house to east, now in use as self-catering unit, having hipped slate roof and painted roughcast rendered walls. Square-headed window opening to first floor with two-over-two pane timber sliding sash window, and with elliptical-headed former carriage arch opening to ground floor having uPVC glazed window. Set back from the road with roughcast rendered boundary walls terminating in square-profile piers and having similar piers with wrought-iron gates.Appraisal This scale and general proportions of this classically proportioned house form a pleasing visual contrast with other buildings on the street, while the former coach house adds context and interest to the site. Castletownroche, County Cork 20805029 Reg. No. 20805029 Date 1860 – 1880 Previous Name N/A Townland CASTLETOWNROCHE County County Cork Coordinates 168313, 102541 Categories of Special Interest ARCHITECTURAL Rating Regional Original Use house In Use As house Description Attached three-bay two-storey house, built c. 1870, with two-bay two-storey addition to rear. Pitched slate roof with rendered chimneystacks. Rendered walls, some painted, with decorative render quoins and painted rendered plinth course. Square-headed windows throughout. Windows diminishing to front elevation, with painted sills and timber sliding sash windows, two-over-two pane to first floor and six-over-six pane to ground floor. Replacement timber windows to addition and four-pane timber casement window to north gable. Square-headed door opening having timber surround with panelled Doric-style pilasters, timber panelled door having cast-iron door furniture, and rectangular overlight, approached by two limestone steps.Appraisal This house, with its decorative render detailing and ornate door surround, forms and integral part of the aesthetic makeup of the streetscape. Its location at the north end of the town on Doneraile Road make it an important introduction to the overall architectural character of the town. The house retains much of its original character, accentuated by the retention of timber sliding sash windows and the interesting timber doorway and door. Chapel Road, Castletownroche, County Cork 20805031 Reg. No. 20805031 Date 1860 – 1880 Previous Name N/A Townland CASTLETOWNROCHE County County Cork Coordinates 168037, 102233 Categories of Special Interest ARTISTIC SOCIAL TECHNICAL Rating Regional Original Use water pump Description Freestanding water hydrant to west end of Chapel Road at road junction, erected c.1870, having fluted round shaft with moulded base and fluted domed cap, finial missing. Plain round spout, with recent tap to side. Maker’s mark below spout.Appraisal This hydrant exhibits attractive, well executed yet restrained detailing which enlivens the form of its utilitarian purpose. It is an important reminder of town life before the widespread provision of piped water supply.