Carstown
Carstown
Co Louth
Ireland

Details

  • NIAH Ref: 13902116
  • Date: 1610 - 1615
  • Rating: National
  • Orig. Use: Country House
  • Townland: Carstown
  • County: Louth
  • More Info: Click Here
  • Last Reviewed: August 2019

Criteria for Risk

  • Vacant with no identified new use
  • Suffering from neglect and/or poor maintenance
  • Suffering from structural problems
  • Fire damaged

Assessment

  • Condition of Structure: Poor
  • Level of Risk: High

Appraisal

This building has been vacant for a number of years and does not appear to be maintained. Most of the external fabric remains, but there are obvious signs of deterioration, particularly water penetration, slipped slates and vegetation growth. There is no immediate danger of collapse but the condition is such that unless urgent remedial works are carried out the building will sharply deteriorate.

Carstown is a rare surviving gabled house. The building is of national significance in the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage given its 'hybrid of building styles and intact seventeenth-century interior'. The building contains architectural features such as large dormers, a '1612' date stone and Cromwellian chimneystack. Most of the windows are currently filled with bricks and there is serious deterioration to the roof. This building urgently requires new uses to be identified to prevent further deterioration of its character.

In October 2017 the house was further destroyed in a fire at the property. Fire Fighters were called to the scene of the blaze and spent over six hours at the house, bringing the fire under control and dampening it down. Drogheda Gardai were also in attendance. The house was sealed off and a forensic examination of the site was carried out.

Recommended Use

  • Residential

Photograph Credit: theirishaesthete.com