Furnell, Michael (1732-1790)

Camass House, Bruff, Co Limerick  

by jenjunebug

Camass House, Bruff, Co Limerick  

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. 55. “(Bevan/IFR) A plain two storey house of five bays with porch. External shutters. Small battlemented tower near entrance gate.” 

https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/21904410/camas-house-camas-co-limerick

Detached five-bay two-storey with dormer attic house, built c. 1860, with extension to rear (north). House may incorporate fabric from earlier house. Pitched artificial slate roof with rendered chimneystacks, uPVC rainwater goods and recent rooflights. Rendered walls throughout with rendered plat bands and quoins to front (south) elevation. Square-headed window openings with rendered sills and surrounds throughout, having uPVC casement windows. Square-headed door opening with rendered surround and uPVC door to front elevation. Recent concrete outbuilding with pitched corrugated-iron roof to west. Set within own grounds. 

Appraisal 

Camas House is built on the site of an earlier Camas House and may incorporate fabric from the earlier house. The façade of this pleasantly proportioned house has retained a certain elegance through the restrained use of ornamentation displayed around the window and door openings. The symmetrical front elevation contrasts with the more vernacular tradition displayed to the rear elevation which lacks any window openings. The retention of associated outbuilding indicates the building’s use as a farmhouse and adds to the architectural value of the ensemble. 

Ballyclough House, Ballysheedy, Co Limerick 

by jenjunebug

Ballyclough House, Ballysheedy, Co Limerick 

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. 20. “(Furnell/IFR) A plain two storey 5 bay late C18 house with an eaved roof and a projecting porch. Sold 1973.” 

https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/21901342/ballyclough-house-ballyclogh-limerick

Detached five-bay two-storey house, built c. 1780. Hipped slate roof with overhanging eaves. Lined-and-ruled rendered walls, stepped render plinth course with base batter to north elevation. Square-headed window openings with two-over-two pane timber sliding sash windows. Tooled limestone sills. Round-headed door opening with timber panelled door and fanlight over. Moulded render doorcase having pilasters flanking door. Door approached by slate paved area. Single-bay single-storey gate lodge to east, bowed to south. Hipped slate roof with red brick chimneystack. Roughcast rendered walls. Square-headed window opening with timber framed windows. Square-headed door opening with recent timber door frame. Render fire surround to interior. Coursed rubble limestone sweep walls to entrance. Terminating in square-profile piers with tooled quoins and flat caps supporting cast-iron double-leaf gates. 

Appraisal 

The first house built on this site was erected in 1645 but was replaced by the current structure in the mid 1700s, and has seen a number of alterations since that time. The building retains a strong sense of its original historic character, which is enhanced by the retention of the render door case and timber sliding sash windows. The entrance with its cast-iron gates and gate lodge add further historical interest, providing a context to further understanding of the history of the house beyond.