Richardstown Castle, 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. 241. “An old tower-house with a three bay three storey house of ca 1860 on one side of it. The seat of the Henry family.” 

https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/13901712/richardstown-castle-richardstown-co-louth

Detached three-bay three-storey house, built c. 1770. Fourteenth century tower house, four-storeys with four round corner towers to south, extensions to rear (west) elevation c. 1860, central crenellated porch to east elevation, two-storey box-bay to north elevation, three-storey box-bay to west elevation. Pitched slate roof hidden by corbelled roughcast crenellated parapet wall, chamfered ashlar limestone coping, yellow brick corbelled chimneystacks set at angles, ashlar stepped cornice, smooth rendered flat-capped, clay chimney pots; gutters hidden by parapet, circular cast-iron downpipes, raised gables to north and south elevations, ashlar limestone coping, finial to north gable. Roughcast rendered walling, slightly projecting smooth rendered plinth, roll-moulded string course separating ground and first floor on box-bays, stepped diagonal buttresses to box-bays; smooth rendered ruled-and-lined walling to south-west extension. Square-headed window openings main house, sooth-rendered reveals, limestone sills, painted timber one-over-one sliding sash windows, ground floor window openings, east elevation, set within segmental-headed recesses; tripartite stone mullioned windows to box-bays of north and west elevations, some painted timber casement windows, tripartite lancet windows to south gable, some iron window guards; square-headed openings to tower house, painted three-over-six timber sliding sash windows and six-over-six sliding sash within pointed arch recess, pointed arch and square-headed openings to round-cornered towers, stone sills, diamond paned latticed lights; square-headed window openings to porch, painted timber one-over-one sliding sash windows, stained and patterned margin lights. Four-centred arch to crenellated porch, stepped angle ashlar limestone buttresses to corners, chamfered door surround, roll-moulded hood moulding, painted timber glazed and panelled double doors, decorative glass margin lights; segmental-headed opening to west elevation, set within slight gable projection, stone verge coping, stone shield to tympanum, recessed four-centred door opening, ashlar stone surround, painted timber door with nine flat panels. Stone outbuildings to south, random rubble walling, pitched state roofs, block-and-start red brick surrounds to windows and doors; diamond paned lattice windows, painted timber six-over-six and three-over-six sliding sash windows, painted timber casement windows. Segmental-headed carriage arch openings, date stone “1843” in keystone. Gardens to north, east and west, smooth rendered circular ornamental tower with flanking railings to north-west. 

Appraisal 

Richardstown House was built in at least four separate periods, the first being the tower house with rounded corner towers built in the fourteenth century, the second phase was to the north, being of a simple Georgian design c. 1770, further battlements were added in the early 1800’s along with the tower’s lancet windows; a more prominent castellated style was added to the rear in the second half of the nineteenth century. The contrasting styles are clearly visible, especially when one looks at the fenestration details, the lancet windows have particular delicacy contrasting with the heavy stone mullioned tripartite windows of the box-bays. The retention of the outbuildings along with the entrance gate and gate lodge complete this extensive complex, which create not only a positive and important piece of Louth’s architectural heritage but one of social significance. 

https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/13901711/richardstown-castle-richardstown-co-louth

Brick entrance gateway, built c. 1860, to Richardstown Castle. Square-profile brick gate piers to central opening, granite plinth, yellow brick quoin motif to angles, limestone caps with round-headed decorative motif surmounted by cast-iron lamp standards, linked via screen of cast-iron railings on red brick wall with granite plinth, limestone coping, outer squared brick piers, granite plinth, limestone caps with round-headed decorative motif. Random rubble stone quadrant walls to north and south terminating in square-profile crenellated rubble masonry piers. Decorative timber and cast-iron double gates to opening, cut limestone stops to south. Gateway forms main entrance to Richardstown Castle (to south) and fronts onto narrow rural road to north. 

Appraisal 

This handsome gateway forms an imposing entrance to Richardstown Castle and is an integral part of the architectural heritage of the site. The balanced composition, elaborate detailing and eye-catching combination of building materials make it a landmark feature of the roadside and add to its architectural and technical interest. 

https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/13901713/richardstown-castle-richardstown-co-louth

Detached three-bay single-storey former gate lodge, built c. 1860, now in private domestic use. Projecting gable-front entrance porch to south, four-bay single-storey extension north. Pitched slate roof, artificial slate to extension, cast-iron crested ridge tiles, brick chimneystack with clay pots, uPVC gutter on moulded yellow brick corbelled eaves course, stone verge coping to porch and gables. Painted brick laid in English garden wall bond, granite plinth, painted brick corner buttresses to porch, limestone capping. Square-headed window openings to south elevation, stop-chamfered brick reveals, chamfered limestone sills, partially painted yellow brick window heads, uPVC windows, tripartite window openings to east and west elevations, stop-chamfered brick reveals, chamfered limestone sills, yellow brick to window heads, uPVC windows. Pointed arch opening to porch, limestone crest to gable, recessed pointed arch door opening, painted timber vertically-sheeted double doors, granite step to entrance, fired-clay paving to porch. Lodge fronts onto road, cast-iron railings on limestone plinth to south, facing main entrance gateway to Richardstown Castle. 

Appraisal 

This modestly-proportioned yet attractive gate lodge forms an integral par of the Richardstown Castle Estate and together with the formal entrance gate opposite is an eye-catching feature of the rural roadscape. Fine brick detailing, along with the use of contrasting granite and limestone accents, creates a harmonious and interesting façade and the projecting entrance porch gives a strong central emphasis to the composition. 

http://irishantiquities.bravehost.com/louth/richardstown/richardstowncastle.html 

Map Reference: O015905 (3015, 2905) 

This tower-house is possibly four storeys high. It is almost square in plan and has a round projecting tower at each corner. These rise above the level of the main tower. There are modern crenellations built with brick. The castle is attached to a three-bay three-storey house of 1860. All the window openings in the tower are relatively modern and may have been inserted when the 19th century house was built. The building is covered by plaster and pebbledash but where the surface has fallen away it can be seen that the upper levels of the tower-house contain a lot of brick. The lower levels are of limestone and greywacke. Little remains of the original internal structure. This suggests that by the time the new house was built the old castle was considerably ruined.