Inane, Roscrea, Co Tipperary
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. 158. “A simple two storey early to mid-C19 Tudor-Revival house…Impressive Georgian stables with pedimented archways facing the house across a forecourt, in the centre of which is a large and elaborate Neptune fountain. The seat of the Jackson family.”
Detached seven-bay two-storey house, built c. 1825, with slightly advanced gabled end bays flanking arcaded central bays and with earlier nine-bay two-storey dwelling to west, c. 1730. Pitched slate roofs with cut limestone chimneystacks, decorative eaves course with carved basal corbels. Smooth rendered and lined-and-ruled rendered walls, having decorative croix pommées and shields to front elevation and cut stone plinths. Double trefoil-headed leaded one-over-one pane timber sash windows in square-headed openings with label mouldings, cut limestone sills, and with render panels below to first floor. Narrower four-over-four pane timber sash windows to rear block. Pseudo four-centred arches separated by panelled pilasters to arcade. Decorative traceried windows throughout, with decorative spandrels to square-headed openings. Segmental-headed timber panelled double doors in limestone doorcase flanked by pseudo four-center-arched windows.
Appraisal
The contrast between the simple façade and narrow windows of the earlier east block and the more decorative Tudor Revival M-profile of the north elevation is evidence of the gradual growth of this building and the change in architectural styles. The form and scale of this house are further enhanced by the retention of features such as its slate roof, timber sash windows and studded panelled door.
Nine-bay two-storey house built c. 1730 to north of later house. Slated roof, half-hipped to south end and gabled to north. Rendered and cut stone chimneys and cast-iron rainwater goods. Ruled-and-lined rendered walls. Narrow square-headed openings throughout. Timber margined casement windows to southernmost bay and timber sash windows with exposed boxes elsewhere, all with cut stone sills. Replacement glazed timber door.
Appraisal
This house, built more than a century earlier than the main Inane House, is notable for its narrow timber sash windows and steeply-pitched slate roof. It is unusually long and is one of the oldest houses in the county.
Stable blocks added in 1826 to form south-west and north-west ranges of courtyard, with later extensions to house to south. Seven-bay two-storey ranges of former stables, having slightly advanced pedimented bay to each, with pseudo four-centred carriage arches. Pitched slate roof with rendered chimneystacks. Lined-and-ruled rendered walls with limestone string course and plinth. Double trefoil-headed traceried timber sash windows in square-headed openings with limestone sills and circular metal pivoted windows to first floor, and casement windows to ground floor, all with lattice glazing. Square-headed door openings glazed timber doors with traceried overlights. Cut limestone lantern to north-west range. Rendered fountain to centre of courtyard. Further outbuildings to north. Sandstone demesne wall to site boundary.
Appraisal
The high level of detailing in the windows, in the stable blocks as well as the house, is evidence of the high quality craftsmanship of the early nineteenth century. The apparent architectural design of the impressive stable blocks belies their functional purpose. The central fountain provides an artistic focus to the courtyard.
Irish Historic Houses 