A triumphal arch that formerly announced entrance to the Oak Park estate in County Carlow. Constructed of crisp granite, it dates from the late 1830s when designed by William Vitruvius Morrison for owner Colonel Henry Bruen. The external side has flanking screen walls and a carriage turn, while there are paired Ionic columns on either side of the arch. The park side is simpler with Doric pilasters. It seems the architect and his father, Sir Richard Morrison, had previously proposed a similar design to both Barons Court, County Tyrone and Castle Coole, County Fermanagh, so this is a case of third time lucky. There are rooms on either side of the arch which seemingly was occupied up to 1970. The gates which once stood inside the arch are long-since gone as this is now a public road.
Impressed that this still survives and the traffic flow through it. Your posts always inspire me to do more ‘browsing’ of a county historical sites, the Blue Book properties or look at real estate for sale. Lately it seems some houses that have been well cared for are coming on the market that I hope find a new owner. Had to pass along Erindale, Kilkenny Road, Carlow Town. The most exquisite fanlight work I have ever seen and that unusual double bow front in brick with those (contrasting styles) pointed arch windows. Lovely.
My great grandfather John Jacob (married to Elizabeth Pierce) worked on the Oak Park Estate back in the late 1800s before immigrating to the United States in 1906. My grandmother Francis Lucy Jacob was born on the estate in 1900. Some records indicate that the Jacob family lived in the “Gate House”. Do you know if that structure still exists on the Teagasc research property which was probably near the entry arch (like main house)?
Thank you for your message. I don’t know if such a place still stands: it has been a few years since I visited the site. Perhaps if you looked at Google Maps (the photographic images), you might be able to discover it?