Monday’s post about the former house at Clonalis, County Roscommon included a photograph of the building when still intact. That image showed much of the facade covered in ivy, but another, and clearer, picture has now been found which shows the same view with much less vegetation. What’s especially interesting is that above each of the windows and niches on ground and first floors there was a carved stone mask. Thankfully, some of these were salvaged and are now kept in the new Clonalis but they are a curious feature. The only other example of this kind of external decoration that comes to mind are the masks above the windows on the central section of the entrance front at Gloster, County Offaly, which also dates from the early 18th century. Does anyone know of other instances?
Clonfert..lots of them above the door…sorry Robert
Indeed, there are lots of such masks found on religious buildings – but on domestic residences?
A carved stone mask was on the keystone of a niche edged with a Gibbs-surround, adorning the front steps at basement level at Desart Court, Co. Kilkenny, according to Sadleir & Dickinson’s 1916 Georgian Mansions in Ireland.
fascinating and a lovely old house. I especially like the 15 pane sash windows.
There are 14 carved stone masks on the facade of Hillsborough Fort, county Down. They were carved about 1760.
Oh thank you for this: I keep meaning to visit the fort, but somehow this has yet to occur…
Sadly it is in very poor order. Experimental sections of pebble pebbledash have been removed from the keep, but have damaged the walls beneath.