Melcomb (also known as Milcum), Newport, Co Mayo 

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. 204. “(O’Donnel, Bt/PB 1889) A two storey mid-C18 house with a central three sided bow. Entrance doorway in the bow, with blocking and pediment having neither architrave nor frieze; its tympanum containing a narrow fanlight. The house is flanked by detached wings standing at an angle of 45 degrees to it. Passed after the death of Sir George O’Donnel, 5^th and last Bt, 1889, to his niece, Melicent Agnes (see O’Donnel), wife of Edwin Thomas, who assumed the additional surname of O’Donnel.” 

https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/31306717/milcum-house-originally-seamount-teevmore-newport-co-mayo

Detached five-bay two-storey double-pile country house with dormer attic, built 1754; extant 1777, on a T-shaped plan centred on single-bay full-height breakfront on an engaged half-octagonal plan; pair of single-bay single-storey “pavilions” on diagonal square plans. In alternative use, 1785. Vacant, 1911. Sold, 1915. Resold, 1945. Resold, 1968. Extensively renovated, —-. Replacement pitched double-pile (M-profile) artificial slate roof on a T-shaped plan centred on half-octagonal artificial slate roof (breakfront); pyramidal slate roofs (“pavilions”), clay ridge tiles, rendered chimney stacks having cut-limestone corbelled stepped stringcourses below capping supporting terracotta pots, slightly sproketed eaves, and uPVC rainwater goods on timber eaves boards on rendered cut-limestone eaves. Creeper- or ivy-covered replacement cement rendered walls to front (south) elevation; creeper- or ivy-covered roughcast surface finish (remainder). Segmental-headed central door opening approached by flight of four drag edged tooled cut-limestone steps, drag edged dragged cut-limestone block-and-start surround supporting pediment framing timber panelled double doors having fanlight. Square-headed flanking window openings with drag edged dragged cut-limestone sills, and concealed dressings framing four-over-four timber sash windows. Square-headed window openings with drag edged dragged cut-limestone sills, and concealed dressings framing replacement uPVC casement windows replacing four-over-four (ground floor) or four-over-two (first floor) timber sash windows. Square-headed window openings to rear (north) elevation centred on square-headed window opening (half-landing) with drag edged dragged cut-limestone sills, and concealed dressings framing ten-over-ten or six-over-six timber sash windows without horns centred on nine-over-six timber sash window (half-landing). Interior including (ground floor): vestibule on an engaged half-octagonal plan; segmental-headed door opening into hall with glazed timber panelled double doors having sidelights below overlight; hall retaining carved timber surrounds to door openings framing timber panelled doors, staircase on a dog leg plan with timber balusters supporting timber banister terminating in timber newels, and plasterwork cornice to ceiling; drawing room (south-west) retaining carved timber surround to door opening framing timber panelled door with carved timber surrounds to window openings framing timber panelled shutters, cut-white marble Classical-style chimneypiece, and run moulded plasterwork cornice to ceiling; dining room (south-east) retaining carved timber surround to door opening framing timber panelled door with carved timber surrounds to window openings framing timber panelled shutters, and run moulded plasterwork cornice to ceiling; and timber surrounds to door openings to remainder framing timber panelled doors with timber panelled shutters to window openings. Set in landscaped grounds on an elevated site with repointed piers to perimeter having pyramidal capping supporting spear head-detailed wrought iron double gates. 

Appraisal 

A country house erected by Hugh O’Donel (d. 1762) representing an important component of the mid eighteenth-century domestic built heritage of Newport with the architectural value of the composition, one subsequently annotated as “Seamount [of the] Honourable J. Browne” by Taylor and Skinner (1778 pl. 79), confirmed by such attributes as the deliberate alignment maximising on panoramic vistas overlooking an inlet of Newport Bay; the neo-Palladian-esque plan form centred on a polygonal breakfront showing a provincial Gibbsian doorcase ‘omitting architrave [sic] and frieze’ (Craig 1976, 40); the diminishing in scale of the openings on each floor producing a graduated visual impression; and the high pitched roofline. Having been reasonably well maintained, the elementary form and massing survive intact together with quantities of the original fabric, both to the exterior and to the interior where contemporary joinery; Classical-style chimneypieces; and sleek plasterwork refinements, all highlight the artistic potential of the composition: however, the introduction of replacement fittings to most of the openings has not had a beneficial impact on the character or integrity of the country house. Furthermore, a lengthy outbuilding (extant 1838); a walled garden (extant 1838); and a nearby gate lodge (extant 1897), all continue to contribute positively to the group and setting values of a self-contained estate having historic connections with the O’Donel family including Sir Neal O’Donel (d. 1811); Lieutenant Connell O’Donel (1775-1840; Lewis 1837 I, 233); Sir George Clendenning O’Donel (1832-89), fifth Baronet (Bence-Jones 1978, 204); and Edwin Thomas O’Donel JP DL (né Thomas) (1853-1932; NA 1911); and Sir Anthony Beaver KCVO CBE (1895-1977), one-time Private Secretary to Prime Minister Clement Attlee (1883-1967). 

http://landedestates.nuigalway.ie/LandedEstates/jsp/property-list.jsp?letter=M 

Ruane states that this house was built in 1754 by the Browne family [of Westport] and that it was first known as ‘Seamount’. There was another Milcum house, built in the small townland of Milcum by the Binghams in the early 18th century, which was the house marked ‘in ruins’ on the first Ordnance Survey map. Seamount was occupied by Connell O’Donel in 1837. At the time of Griffith’s Valuation it was unoccupied but in the possession of Nathaniel P. Simes. In the 20th century it was the home of Miss Laprimandaye, Sir Anthony Beever, the Brittains, the Percivals and Mr and Mrs Peter Mullowney. Milcum is still extant and occupied.