Knockglass, Crossmolina, 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. 178. “(Paget, sub Knox/ifr) A two storey five bay Georgian house with a hood moulding over the entrance door. Forerly the seat of the Paget family; now the residence of the C of I Bishop of Tuam, Killala, and Achonry.” 

https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/31302915/knockglass-house-knockglass-tira-by-co-mayo

Detached five-bay two-storey country house, extant 1776, on a T-shaped plan with single-bay (four-bay deep) full-height central return (west). Occupied, 1911. Sold, 1963, to accommodate alternative use. Reroofed, 1998. Undergoing “restoration”, 2009. Vacated, 2011. For sale, 2012. Replacement hipped slate roof on a T-shaped plan centred on hipped slate roof (west) with clay ridge tiles, paired red brick Common bond central chimney stacks on red brick header bond chamfered cushion courses on rendered bases having chevron- or saw tooth-detailed capping supporting yellow terracotta octagonal pots, and uPVC rainwater goods on timber eaves boards on rendered cut-limestone eaves retaining some cast-iron octagonal or ogee hoppers and downpipes. Part creeper- or ivy-covered rendered, ruled and lined walls. Square-headed central door opening remodelled, 1824, with limestone flagged threshold, and concealed dressings with hood moulding framing timber panelled double doors having fanlight overlight. Square-headed window openings with drag edged dragged cut-limestone sills, and moulded rendered surrounds framing six-over-six timber sash windows without horns having part exposed sash boxes. Interior including (ground floor): central vestibule; square-headed door opening into hall retaining fanlight; hall retaining carved timber surrounds to door openings framing timber panelled doors, and decorative plasterwork cornice to ceiling; drawing room (south) 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 decorative plasterwork cornice to ceiling centred on “Acanthus”-detailed ceiling rose; dining room (north) retaining carved timber surround to door opening framing timber panelled door with carved timber surrounds to window openings framing timber panelled shutters, Classical-style chimneypiece centred on cast-iron stove, and picture railing below decorative plasterwork cornice to ceiling centred on decorative plasterwork ceiling rose; staircase hall (west) retaining staircase on a dog leg plan with turned timber “spindle” balusters supporting carved timber banister terminating in turned timber newels, carved timber surround to window opening to half-landing framing timber panelled shutters, and run moulded plasterwork cornice to ceiling centred on “Acanthus”-detailed ceiling rose; (first floor): carved timber surrounds to door openings framing timber panelled doors with carved timber surrounds to window openings framing timber panelled shutters. Set in landscaped grounds. 

Appraisal 

A country house representing an important component of the eighteenth-century domestic built heritage of the rural environs of Crossmolina with the architectural value of the composition confirmed by such attributes as the deliberate alignment maximising on scenic vistas overlooking landscaped grounds and the meandering Deel River; the near-symmetrical footprint centred on a Classically-detailed doorcase showing a pretty “spider web” fanlight; the very slight diminishing in scale of the openings on each floor producing a feint graduated visual impression; and the high pitched roofline. Having been well maintained, the elementary form and massing survive intact together with substantial quantities of the original fabric, both to the exterior and to the interior, including crown or cylinder glazing panels in hornless sash frames: meanwhile, contemporary joinery; Classical chimneypieces; and decorative plasterwork enrichments, all highlight the artistic potential of the composition. Furthermore, adjacent outbuildings (see 31302916); a walled garden (see 31302917); and a Georgian Gothic gate lodge (extant 1838), all continue to contribute positively to the group and setting values of an estate having historic connections with the Paget family including Thomas Paget (c.1716-97?); Robert Paget (1758-1834); Thomas Paget JP (1796-1877; Lewis 1837 I, 438); and Captain James Paget (1820-1901) and Jane Caroline Paget (née Knox) (1832-1906); Patrick Rowe of Eden, Ballina (ITA 1942); Major Harold Fellowes Prynne (b. 1892), Architect to the Diocese of Tuam (occupant 1951); and the bishopric of the Church of Ireland United Diocese of Tuam, Killala and Achonry including Reverend Arthur Hamilton Butler MBE (1912-91; fl. 1958-69); Dr. John Coote Duggan (1918-2000; fl. 1970-85); Reverend John Robert Winder Neill (b. 1945; fl. 1986-97); and Dr. Richard Crosbie Aitken Henderson (b. 1957: fl. 1998-2011). 

https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/32403804/knockalass-house-knockalass-corran-by-kilturra-e-d-co-sligo

Detached four-bay two-storey rendered house, built c. 1840. Oblong plan with original three-bay house to west extended by one bay to the east, single-storey flat-roofed porch c. 1930 to centre of original house, single-bay flat-roofed extension to rear (north) c. 1930, contiguous two-storey hipped roof outbuilding to north-west. Pitched slate roof, clay ridge tiles, unpainted smooth-rendered corbelled chimneystacks, concrete verge cappings to gable-ends, half-round cast-iron gutters (mainly missing) on eaves corbel course. Painted smooth-rendered ruled-and-lined walls, straight V-jointed quoins, first floor sill course. Square-headed window openings, limestone sills, painted one-over-one timber sash windows c. 1900 to ground floor, six-over-six to first floor. Square-headed entrance door opening in porch, plain-glazed overlight and sidelights, painted panelled timber door. Two pitched slate roofed outbuildings and corrugated-iron barn to north. Three-bay single-storey cottage to north-east with fretted bargeboards. Located in ground at end of long lane, rubble stone and roughcast boundary walls. 

Appraisal 

Although this farmhouse has not been occupied for a number of years, its development can be discerned in the various extensions and details which include the survival of original multi-pane windows. There are two handsome outbuildings to the farmyard and a, rather whimsical, cottage with delightful bargeboards. 

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

The main residence of the Paget family in the 19th century. Afterwards it passed into the possession of Patrick Rowe and later served as the home of the Church of Ireland Bishop of Tuam, Achonry and Killala. In 2011 it was offered for sale.