New Forest, Tyrrellspass, Co Westmeath
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. 224. (Daniell/IFR; Gairdner/LGI1958) A mid to late C18 house of three storeys over a basement. Entrance front with two bays on either side of central breakfront, in which there is a central window flanked by narrower windows in each of two upper storeys, and a tripartite fanlighted doorway of a familiar “pattern book” design, similar to those at Colganstown and Newberry Hall, County Kildare and numerous other houses; with columns, an entablature and a baseless pediment. Large drawing room on either side of hall; narrow library. Sold ca 1950 to Lt-Gen Sir Charles Gairdner, who was subsequenty appointed Governor of Western Australia and resold New Forest ca 1954 to Mr H. Hannevig.”
[no image]
New Forest House, HIGGINSTOWN, County Westmeath
Detached five-bay three-storey over basement country house, built c.1775, having a central single-bay breakfront to the centre of the main façade (south). Now in use as a hotel and set in a golf course. Shallow hipped natural slate roof, partially hidden by a raised parapet with cut stone coping over, with a pair of rendered chimneystacks aligned parallel to roof ridge. Cast-iron rainwater goods. Roughcast rendered walls with square-headed window openings having cut stone sills and timber sliding sash windows (diminishing in size towards the eaves). Round-headed tripartite cut stone doorcase to the centre of the main façade (south) having an open bed pediment over, timber panelled door, flanking sidelights and a spoke fanlight above. Flight of cut limestone steps flanked to either side (east and west) by iron railings gives access to doorway over basement. Tripartite window openings to the centre of the first and second floor, above doorcase. Set back from road in extensive mature landscaped grounds to the west of Tyrrellspass. Extensive complex of two-storey outbuildings/stable block on U-shaped plan to the east having hipped natural slate roofs, roughcast rendered walls, square-headed window and door openings with timber sash windows and timber sheeted doors, integral segmental-headed carriage arches with ashlar limestone surrounds, and with a cupola over the centre of the range to the west. Ashlar limestone gate piers and iron gates to the west end of range of outbuildings to the south. Main entrance gates to grounds and remains of former gate lodge to the south (15403802).
Appraisal
A substantial, well-proportioned mid-to-late eighteenth-century country house, which retains much of its early form, fabric and character despite recent alterations to accommodate conversion for use as an hotel. The plain but well-balanced front façade is enlivened by the central breakfront, the tripartite arrangement of window openings and in particular by the good quality tripartite cut limestone doorcase, which is of artistic merit. This house forms the centrepiece of an interesting group of related structures along with the very good quality complex of outbuildings/stable block to the west, which is of architectural merit in its own right, and the main entrance gates (15403802) to the south. New Forest was the home of a H. Daniel, Esq., in 1837. It was sold c.1950 to Lt-General Sir Charles Gairdner, who was later appointed Governor of Western Australia (1951-1963) and then Governor of Tasmania (1963-68). This impressive structure occupies extensive mature landscaped grounds, now in use as a golf course, and is an appealing feature in the landscape of south Westmeath. It is a worthy addition to the architectural heritage of Westmeath.
Entrance gates serving New Forest House (15403824), erected c.1780, comprising a pair of ashlar limestone gate piers on square-plan (having moulded ashlar limestone capstones over with fluted friezes and dome-shaped finials) supporting a pair of wrought-iron gates. Cut stone wheel guards to the bases of piers. Gateway flanked to either side (east and west) by sections of rendered walling on curved plan. Rubble limestone boundary walls run away to the east and the west. Ruins of five-bay single-storey gate lodge to the northeast having round-headed openings. Located to the south of New Forest House (15403824) and to the west of Tyrrellspass.
Appraisal
A handsome entrance gateway serving New Forest House (15403824). The gate piers are well-built using fine ashlar limestone masonry while the associated gates are a good example of early wrought-iron work. The robustly constructed estate wall, running away to the east and west, makes a pleasing visual statement in the landscape to the west of Tyrrellspass. The ruins of the attendant gate lodge complete the setting.
Irish Historic Houses 