Affane, Co Waterford – ruinous
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.
(Lambert/IFR)
supplement
p. 289. “(Browning/IFR; Poer/LG1863) A three storey three bay house of C17 or C18 appearance…The last of the great battles between the Earls of Ormonde and Desmond was fought near here 1564. Affane was later famous for producing the best cherries in Ireland, which were said to have been first planted by Sir Walter Raleigh. Since Affane is one of the houses associated with the legendary old Countess of Desmond, it is possible that the cherry tree from which she fell to her death was here. In C17 Affane was the seat of Valentine Greatrakes, known as “the Stroker” from his ability to cure the King’s Evil and all manner of diseases by stroking. Affane was inherited by his only daughter who married Major Edmund Browning; it passed by inheritance C18 to a branch of the Poers or Powers, who were here until 1954. The house is now ruinous.” [1]
Detached five-bay two-storey over basement country house, extant 1841, on a T-shaped plan with pair of single-bay two-storey bows (end bays) on engaged half-octagonal plans; single-bay (three-bay deep) three-storey central return (west). Occupied, 1901; 1911. Vacated, 1945. Now in ruins. Remains of hipped slate roof on a U-shaped plan including half-octagonal slate roofs on timber construction (end bays); remains of pitched slate roof (west), roll moulded clay ridge tiles, limestone ashlar chimney stacks on cut-limestone cushion courses on rendered bases having stringcourses below lichen-spotted cut-limestone chamfered capping, and remains of cast-iron rainwater goods on rendered stepped eaves. Rendered, ruled and lined coursed rubble stone walls with concealed flush quoins to corners; rendered battered walls (west). Segmental-headed central door opening approached by flight of four cut-limestone steps, concealed dressings including limestone ashlar voussoirs framing timber panelled double doors having overlight. Square-headed window openings (ground floor) with drag edged cut-limestone sills, and concealed dressings framing one-over-one timber sash windows. Square-headed window openings (first floor) with drag edged cut-limestone sills, and concealed dressings framing six-over-six timber sash windows. Square-headed window openings (west) with cut-limestone sills, and concealed red brick block-and-start surrounds framing eight-over-eight or four-over-eight (top floor) timber sash windows without horns. Interior in ruins including (ground floor): central hall retaining carved timber surrounds to door openings framing timber panelled doors; bow-ended reception room (south) retaining carved timber surround to door opening framing timber panelled door with carved timber surrounds to window openings framing timber panelled shutters on panelled risers, and decorative plasterwork cornice to ceiling on “bas-relief” frieze; reception room (north) retaining carved timber surround to door opening framing timber panelled door with carved timber surrounds to window openings framing timber panelled shutters on panelled risers, and decorative plasterwork cornice to ceiling on “bas-relief” frieze; and carved timber surrounds to door openings to remainder framing timber panelled doors with carved timber surrounds to window openings framing timber panelled shutters. Set in unkempt grounds with rendered panelled cylindrical piers to perimeter having domed capping.
Irish Historic Houses 