A terrace of seven cottages, built for workers on the Ballymascanlan estate, County Louth. buildingsofireland.com proposes a date of c.1820 for these, at a time when the property was owned, but perhaps not occupied, by Sir Frederick Foster. The main house, originally a late 18th century classical block, was given an extensive overhaul by an unknown architect in the 1840s, transforming it into a Tudor-Gothic mansion, so it may be that the cottages – with their towering diagonal brick chimneys and mullioned windows – were constructed at the same time. The whole terrace now stands sadly empty and falling into dereliction, its location on the edge of a busy road not helping to make the location attractive for prospective occupants.
Is there any record of them having been Almshouses and Warden’s House?
As far as I have been able to find out, they were built as workers’ houses, but yes, they do look like a row of almshouses…
I have a small portrait of Frederick John Foster, d 1888 here. He is a cousin of mine.
I have a small portrait of Frederick John Foster d 1888 here. He was a cousin of mine.
They look slightly similar to the curved row of cottages in Raheny
If we could get the road shifted, they’d make great sheltered housing. In the absence of a bypass, a creative developer might see them as a themed motel. Yet another practical, multi-use structure condemned to destruction by the combustion engine.
What a shame
Their location is certainly not helping. The windows are very good, better than I would expect for labourer’s cottages. Is the central cottage larger internally if so could it be for a foreman? It does give distinction to the row as a whole.