Rossenarra, Kilmaganny, Co Kilkenny
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. 247. “(Reade/LGI1958) An early C19 house in the Palladian manner, consisting of a three storey five bay centre block joined by open arcades to two storey office wings running back, their ends facing the front being of two bays with pediment-gables. The centre block has a one bay breakfront and a central Wyatt window above a Doric porch with acroteria. Entablatures over ground floor and first floor windows; eaved roof on cornice bracket. Three bay side. The seat of the Reade (afterwards Morris-Reade) family; more recently of the McEnerys. Sold ca 1961 by Mrs John McEnery (dauther by her first husband of Hazel Martyn, Lady Lavery, whose portrait as an Irish colleen by her second husband, John Lavery RA, has appeared regularly on Irish banknotes since 1922), afterwards Mrs Denis Gwynn. Now the home of Mr Richard Condon, the American novelist and playwright, who bought it after it had stood empty for a number of years, and he restored it admirably.”
https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/12320005/rossenarra-house-rossenarra-demesne-kilmaganny-co-kilkenny
Rossenarra House, ROSSENARRA DEMESNE, Kilmaganny, County Kilkenny
Detached five-bay three-storey over basement Classical-style country house, built 1824, on a symmetrical Palladian plan with single-bay three-storey shallow breakfront having prostyle tetrastyle flat-roofed Ionic portico to centre ground floor, three-bay three-storey side elevations, four-bay three-storey Garden (south) Front, and five-bay single-storey arcaded recessed flanking lateral wings leading to two-bay two-storey gable-fronted pavilion blocks. Restored, post-1961. Part refenestrated. Hipped slate roof to main block on a quadrangular plan (pitched to wings behind parapets; pitched (gable-fronted) to pavilion blocks) with clay ridge tiles, rendered chimney stacks, and cast-iron rainwater goods on overhanging rendered eaves having brackets. Painted rendered walls with rendered dressings including stringcourse to first floor, moulded stringcourse to eaves, full-height panelled Doric pilasters to Garden (south) Front, moulded cornice to lateral wings supporting rendered parapets having raised central sections, and overhanging surrounds to gables to pavilions forming pediments having modillions. Square-headed window openings (in tripartite arrangement to centre first floor) with rendered sills, moulded rendered surrounds having entablatures over on consoles (supporting panelled ‘blocking course’ to first floor; moulded surrounds only to top floor and to pavilions), six-over-nine (ground floor), six-over-six (first floor having two-over-two sidelights to tripartite opening), and three-over-six (top floor) timber sash windows having some replacement uPVC casement windows to pavilions. Square-headed openings behind prostyle tetrastyle Ionic portico (with columns having outer pilasters supporting frieze, moulded cornice, and panelled blocking course over) with rendered pilasters, timber panelled door having overlight, and four-over-four timber sash sidelights on rendered sills. Series of five round-headed openings to lateral wings forming arcade (some blind) with moulded stringcourse to spring of arches. Interior with timber panelled shutters to window openings, and moulded plasterwork cornices to ceilings. Set back from road in own grounds with sections of iron railings to basement on painted cut-stone plinth, tarmacadam forecourt, and landscaped grounds to site.
Appraisal
An impressive substantial house built to designs prepared by James Hoban (1762-1831) reflecting the lingering taste for the Palladian style carried over from the previous century as identified by the arrangement of the main block with flanking wings leading to pavilions but also featuring characteristics redolent of the Regency period including an elegantly overhanging roof. Fine rendered detailing in the Classical style exhibiting high quality craftsmanship further enhances the architectural design quality of the house. Restored in the late twentieth century following a period of neglect the house has subsequently been well maintained to present an early aspect with much of the historic character intact both to the exterior and to the interior where plasterwork details identify the artistic significance of the site: however, the introduction of inappropriate fittings to the openings threatens to undermine the external expression of the composition. The house is of additional special interest in the locality for the historic associations with the Reade (Morris Reade), the MacEnery, and the Condon families.
https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/12320002/rossenarra-house-rossenarra-demesne-kilmaganny-co-kilkenny
Gate screen, c.1825, comprising: (i) Gateway with segmental-headed carriageway having pair of limestone ashlar piers with cut-limestone quoins, carved stringcourse to spring of arch, cut-limestone quoined voussoirs, wrought iron double gates having spear-head finials, limestone ashlar parapet having cut-limestone quoins, scroll book-end consoles, carved (moulded) cornice having blocking course over with cut-limestone coping, painted rendered flanking screen walls incorporating square-headed pedestrian gateways with carved cut-limestone surrounds having inscribed overpanels, wrought iron gates having spear-head finials, and cut-limestone coping to parapet. Road fronted at entrance to grounds of Rossenarra House. (ii) Pair of single-bay single-storey gate lodges to east and to west with two-bay single-storey side elevations. Part refenestrated. Now in private residential use. Hipped slate roofs with clay ridge tiles, rendered chimney stacks, and cast-iron rainwater goods on overhanging eaves having rib consoles. Painted rendered walls with cut-limestone quoins to corners. Square-headed window openings in bipartite arrangement (in segmental-headed recess to road (north) elevation) with cut-limestone sills, and one-over-one timber sash windows having some replacement uPVC casement windows to range to east. Square-headed door openings with timber panelled doors.
Appraisal
An elegantly-appointed gate screen built as one of a pair (with 12403121/KK-31-21) known as “The Grand Gates” allowing access on to the Rossenarra House estate. Formally composed on a symmetrical plan centred on a finely-detailed gateway the design aesthetic of the composition is enhanced by carved limestone dressings displaying expert stone masonry: although of comparatively simple quality the flanking gate lodges incorporate distinctive attributes signifying a thoroughly-composed scheme. Although subsequently decommissioned following partition from the estate holding the gateway has historically been reasonably well maintained: however, the continued replacement of the original fabric threatens to undermine the character of the composition. In a manner similar to the second in the pair, occupying a prominent position on the roads leading to Kilmaganny from Newmarket in the east the gateway forms a distinct landmark in the local landscape.
https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/12403121/rossenarra-house-rossenarra-demesne-kilmaganny-co-kilkenny
Gate screen, c.1825, comprising: (i) Gateway with segmental-headed carriageway having pair of limestone ashlar piers with cut-limestone quoins, carved stringcourse to spring of arch, cut-limestone quoined voussoirs, wrought iron double gates having spear-head finials, limestone ashlar parapet having cut-limestone quoins, scroll book-end consoles, carved (moulded) cornice having blocking course over with cut-limestone coping, painted rendered flanking screen walls incorporating square-headed pedestrian gateways with carved cut-limestone surrounds having inscribed overpanels, wrought iron gates having spear-head finials, and cut-limestone coping to parapet. Road fronted at entrance to grounds of Rossenarra House. (ii) Pair of single-bay single-storey gate lodges to north and to south with two-bay single-storey side elevations. Part refenestrated, c.1975. Now disused. Hipped slate roofs with clay ridge tiles, red brick Running bond chimney stacks, and cast-iron rainwater goods on overhanging eaves having rib consoles. Painted rendered walls with cut-limestone quoins to corners. Square-headed window openings originally in bipartite arrangement (in segmental-headed recess to road (east) elevation) with cut-limestone sills, and replacement timber casement windows, c.1975. Square-headed door openings with timber panelled doors.
Appraisal
An elegantly-appointed gate screen built as one of a pair (with 12320002/KK-31-20-02) known as “The Grand Gates” allowing access on to the Rossenarra House estate. Formally composed on a symmetrical plan centred on a finely-detailed gateway the design aesthetic of the composition is enhanced by carved limestone dressings displaying expert stone masonry: although of comparatively simple quality the flanking gate lodges incorporate distinctive attributes signifying a thoroughly-composed scheme. Although subsequently decommissioned following partition from the estate holding the gateway has historically been reasonably well maintained: however, the continued replacement of the original fabric threatens to undermine the character of the composition. In a manner similar to the second in the pair, occupying a prominent position on the road leading to Kilmaganny from Newmarket in the east the gateway forms a distinct landmark in the local landscape.
https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/12320001/rossenarra-house-rossenarra-demesne-kilmaganny-co-kilkenny
Farmyard complex, c.1825, about a courtyard comprising: (i) Detached twelve-bay two-storey outbuilding range on a symmetrical plan. Pitched slate roof with clay ridge tiles, cut-limestone bellcote to apex (with square-headed aperture having remains of cast-iron fittings, and moulded cornice over supporting blocking course), and cast-iron rainwater goods on squared rubble stone eaves having iron ties. Random rubble stone walls with dressed stone quoins to corners. Square-headed window openings with cut-limestone sills, squared rubble stone voussoirs, and timber boarded panel fittings having some fixed-pane timber windows throughout (some louvered panel fittings throughout). Square-headed door openings (including to first floor) with cut-limestone steps/sills, squared rubble stone voussoirs, and timber boarded doors. (ii) Attached three-bay two-storey range with pair of elliptical-headed carriageways to ground floor. Renovated, c.1900, with one carriageway remodelled. Pitched slate roof with clay ridge tiles, rendered squat chimney stack over rubble stone construction, and cast-iron rainwater goods on squared rubble stone eaves having iron ties. Random rubble stone walls with dressed stone quoins to corners. Square-headed window openings with cut-limestone sills, squared rubble stone voussoirs, and fixed-pane timber fittings having lattice/mesh panels. Square-headed door opening with timber lintel, and timber boarded door. Pair of elliptical-headed carriageways to ground floor (one remodelled, c.1900) with dressed stone voussoirs, and remains of timber fittings (random rubble infill to remodelled opening incorporating square-headed window opening with no sill, timber lintel, and timber fitting). (iii) Attached three-bay two-storey outbuilding range. Now in ruins. Pitched roof now gone with no rainwater goods surviving on squared rubble stone eaves. Random rubble stone walls with dressed stone quoins to corners. Square-headed window openings (some slit-style) with no sills, timber lintels, and no fittings surviving. Square-headed door openings with timber lintels supporting rubble stone voussoirs, and remains of timber boarded half-doors. (iv) Detached seven-bay single-storey stable outbuilding with series of three elliptical-headed carriageways to left. Renovated, c.1900, with some carriageways remodelled. Pitched slate roof with clay ridge tiles, and no rainwater goods on squared rubble stone eaves. Random rubble stone walls with dressed stone quoins to corners. Square-headed door openings with timber lintels, and timber boarded doors (some having overlights). Series of three elliptical-headed carriageways to left (some remodelled, c.1900) with dressed stone voussoirs, and timber fittings (random rubble infill to remodelled openings incorporating square-headed openings with timber boarded door, and remains of fixed-pane timber window). Interior with stone cobbled floors, and timber panelled stalls having timber posts. (v) Detached three-bay two-storey farm manager’s house with two-bay single-storey flanking lateral wings. Refenestrated, c.1975. Part reroofed. Pitched slate roofs (replacement corrugated-iron to wing to right) with clay ridge tiles, rendered chimney stack, and iron rainwater goods on rendered eaves. Painted rendered walls. Square-headed window openings with cut-stone sills, and replacement timber casement windows, c.1975. Square-headed door opening with cut-limestone step, and replacement timber panelled door, c.1975.
Appraisal
A fine collection of substantial outbuildings arranged about a courtyard forming an attractive landmark on the side of the road: the farmyard complex is positioned a considerable distance away from the main house (12320005/KK-31-20-05) in accordance with common practice whereby the residents wished to avoid noxious odours emanating from the agricultural ranges. The construction in unrefined rubble stone highlights the utilitarian nature of the complex while producing an appealing textured, almost rustic visual effect in the composition. Although surviving in various states of repair each unit retains most of the original form and massing together with substantial quantities of the early fabric, thereby making a pleasant impression in an historic setting.
https://www.geni.com/projects/Historic-Buildings-of-Co-Kilkenny-L-Z/28900
Rossenarra House Dating from the early 1800s. Rossenarra has American connections – in the last century it was home for a period to New York-born Richard Condon, WIKI, author of novels such as The Manchurian Candidate and Prizzi’s Honor.
A mid-19th century lithograph showing the façade of Rossenarra, County Kilkenny. Dating from the early 1800s the house’s Palladian manner must have seemed rather anachronistic by the time of its construction. The architect responsible is sometimes claimed to be James Hoban, a local man who in the mid-1780s emigrated to the United States of America where he achieved considerable renown, not least for designing the White House in Washington. Rossenarra has other American connections, since in the last century it was home for a period to New York-born Richard Condon, author of such novels as The Manchurian Candidate and Prizzi’s Honor.
Irish Historic Houses 