Rahanna, Ardee, Co Louth 

Mark Bence-Jones. A Guide to Irish Country Houses (originally published as Burke’s Guide to Country Houses volume 1 Ireland by Burke’s Peerage Ltd. 1978); Revised edition 1988 Constable and Company Ltd, London.

p. 237. “(Ruxton, sub Fitzherbert/IFR) A square two storey house of ca 1820, with a wide-eaved roof and a recessed central bay.” 

https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/13901409/rahanna-house-rahanna-co-louth

Detached three-bay two-storey over basement house, built 1823. Single and two-storey return to west, stone porch to east. Hipped slate roof, clay ridge and hip tiles, yellow brick corbelled chimneystacks with stone caps and clay pots; projecting eaves on painted timber sprockets; profiled cast-iron gutter, circular cast-iron downpipes. Smooth rendered ruled-and-lined walling, roughcast-render to basement and west elevation, chamfered tooled limestone plinth, slight recess to central-bay above entrance porch. Square-headed window openings, tooled limestone sills, smooth rendered reveals, painted timber one-over-one sliding sash windows, six-over-six timber sliding sash windows, cast-iron window guards to basement and west elevation, painted timber tripartite sliding sash windows over entrance porch, multiple-pane stained glass stairwell window to west elevation. Square-headed door opening to east elevation set in tooled limestone porch comprising paired Doric columns on pedestals, simple frieze, cornice and balustrade parapet, painted timber double doors with six raised-and-fielded panels, plain-glazed overlight, stone steps. House situated in extensive grounds, stone outbuildings, walled garden and associated gardener’s house to west. Boundary wall of vertically-laid flat stones to north-west accessed through wrought-iron gates with cast-iron gate piers. 

Appraisal 

Rahanna House is a handsome house which retains many original features, such as timber sliding sash windows and classical porch, which enliven its symmetrical composition. The varied and well-maintained attendant grounds, stable complex, walled garden and gardener’s house enhance this building further, making it one of exceptional architectural quality. 

https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/13901408/rahanna-house-rahanna-co-louth

Attached three-bay single-storey with attic former head gardener’s house, built c. 1880, now in private domestic use. Rectangular-plan, extension to east c.1980, attached to walled garden to south-east, built 1823. Pitched slate roof, crested clay ridge tiles, ball finials to east and west gables, painted timber bargeboards to gables, yellow brick corbelled chimneystacks, moulded cast-iron gutters on yellow brick brackets at, circular cast-iron downpipes. Red brick walling laid in Flemish bond to yellow brick string course at eaves. Square-headed brick- arched window openings, decorative terracotta keystone, granite sills, painted timber casement windows to north elevation with diamond leaded lights; canted bay to west elevation, painted timber colonettes separating painted timber casement windows with fixed diamond pane leaded lights. Square-headed door opening under lean-to roof supported by painted timber brackets, painted timber vertically-sheeted door, surmounted by plain glazed overlight with decorative terracotta keystone. Walled gardens to south-east, red brick walling to north, east and west interior walls, random rubble stone wall to south. Greenhouse with red brick plinth wall, stone coping surmounted by timber and glazed panels and pitched glazed roof. Former gardener’s house and walled garden contained within grounds of Rahanna House. 

Appraisal 

This attractive complex of walled garden and former gardener’s house, situated within the demesne of Rahanna House is an important piece of Louth’s architectural and social history. The walled garden remains intact; plum, apple and pear trees continue to fruit, the vegetable patch and greenhouse continue to be used and it is a reminder of a bygone era. The former gardener’s house, though extended, is picturesque in its design. The leaded lights compliment the red and yellow brick walling and the beautiful detailing on the keystones of two birds entwined elevates this structure from being a purely functional piece of architecture. 

https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/13901410/rahanna-house-rahanna-co-louth

Four ranges of multiple-bay single- and two-storey stone stables, built 1823, attached to farm buildings to west. Stableyard with two-storey range to south and west, single-storey range to north and east, farmyard to west with freestanding iron hayshed and single-storey west range, walled garden to south, gardener’s house. Hipped slate roofs, clay ridge tiles, red brick corbelled chimneystacks, circular metal roof vents, moulded cast-iron gutters, circular cast-iron downpipes, ashlar limestone bellcote to west gable of north range, pitched corrugated-iron roof, painted timber canopy supported on cast-iron columns to south-east. Random rubble uncoursed walling, roughly dressed limestone quoins. Square-headed window openings, lugged-and-kneed limestone surrounds, limestone sills, painted timber three-over-three sliding sash windows, segmental-headed opening to eastern range, red brick infill, square-headed brick arched window opening, painted timber three-over-six south window. Square-headed door openings, lugged, shouldered and kneed limestone door surrounds, painted timber vertically-sheeted doors, segmental-headed carriage arches to west range. Random rubble stone steps to south. Well to north-east. Cobblestones to yard area. Farm complex to west with hay barn, random rubble stone outbuildings, accessed through wrought-iron gates within square-profile random rubble stone gate piers. Situated to west of Rahanna House and to north of walled garden. 

Appraisal 

This stable complex and farm buildings create an attractive group of structures associated with Rahanna House. The context of the grouping remains virtually intact, and the cobblestone yard, well and steps for mounting horses, all remain in-situ. The buildings themselves retain all the original features from sash windows, timber doors, to the bell in the bellcote, and create both an architecturally significant group of structures as well as a social interest, for these buildings are reminder of a period in Ireland’s history where the big house dominated the Irish landscape and local community. 

Casey, Christine and Alistair Rowan. The Buildings of Ireland: North Leinster. Penguin Books, London, 1993.  

p. 204 

https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/75m-estate-is-richest-irish-sale-despite-crisis-26703667.html

Rahanna, Ardee, Co Louth: €1.6m (asking price) 

One of the finest houses in Co Louth, this late Georgian seven-bedroom house has period features and is approached by a sweeping tree-lined avenue. Outside, there are outbuildings, a three-acre walled garden and 29 further acres of parkland.