Built Environment of Thomastown House & Grounds
There's much to record and describe in respect of Thomastown House's built environment. The Kane Family continue record current condition of various elements of the built environment and will report on them here.
Thomastown House
Thomastown House stands extant as a c.700m2 Georgian Manor House with Victorian Southern-Wing. This is the current focus of energy and effort with respect to restoration.
Thomastown House originates in some substantially lesser form from at least the Caroline era, as the property is said to evidence elements from c.1640s, and over the succeeding century the house developed Southward into a four-bay two storey c.1730s Georgian manor house with cellar set in parkland grounds, later Southward development added on a c.1850s-70s Victorian three-bay two-storey gable-ended wing with five-sided two-storey projecting central bay.
Thomastown House has a number of significant recordings given its age, character and architectural merit, these include:
• National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) GA043-125 / 30404301 County House.
• Galway County Council’s Record of Protected Structures (RPS) Number 54, granted on account of “Appraisal: Regional value because of its age and architectural quality.” with “remains of ceiling freize c.1780”
Tree Lined Avenue
c.200m treelined avenue from the gates at the public road to Southern wing of Thomastown House – for further investigation when Mark gets time
Tradesman’s Entrance
“overgrown tradesman’s entrance” from public road to Northern wing of Thomastown House and the Courtyard – for further investigation when Mark gets time
Courtyard
“Gravel courtyard” – for further investigation when Mark gets time
Coach House
Two storey stone coach house with tack room and stable– for further investigation when Mark gets time
Walled Garden
“original cruciform layout walled garden, the wall contains a beautiful old wrought iron pedestrian gate under a stone arch.” – for further investigation when Mark gets time
Other Elements
“Adjoining this courtyard there is a second yard now overgrown and disused with former stables, milking parlour, piggery and other miscellaneous stone buildings leading to the “Haggard” an Irish term for an open air hay/corn yard with a large stone cart house and the original stone corn stands (also known as rock stands, staddle stones or mushroom stones).” – for further investigation when Mark gets time