durrow abbey co. offaly conservation plan - Offaly County Council

Farm Manager’s House
Standing at the western edge of the farm yard is a
rendered two-storey house, most likely intended as
the residence of the farm manager. Facing nor th
onto the farm lane, the house is a three-bay gable
ended structure with end chimneys. The stonewalled
millrace runs along the foot of the west
gable wall, a situation that should be investigated
by a structural engineer.
Millrace and Bridges
A swiftly flowing millrace runs along the western
edge of the farmyard, through a stone walled channel.
This water course is crossed at several points
by stone arched bridges. It appears to be in relatively
sound condition.
West yard, from north
MILL OR GRAIN DRYER
Standing approximately at the centre of the western
yard is gable-fronted mill. No structure is shown in
this location on the 1837-38 map. The mill differs
from the majority of the yard structures in several
respects. Its gabled roof contrasts strongly with the
low-pitched hipped roofs used throughout the yard.
A cast in-situ concrete bell cote stands at the apex
of the nor th gable giving the structure the appearance
of a chapel. The mill walls consists of rubble
masonry and include a number of roughly carved
semi-circular stones appearing to be wall coping
stones. There are few windows or doors compared
to the numerous regular openings on the surrounding
ranges. An underground millrace runs beneath
the building and contains the substantial remains of
a water powered grain mill.
The mill was powered by a stream of water that
was diver ted to run under the cour tyard. This
water course can be seen to run under an arch
beneath the nor thern gateway to the west yard.
Walled Garden
The sizeable walled garden stands south-west of
the mansion house, on a gently sloping west-facing
hillside. The high rubble stone walls are generally
intact, the presence of stone buttresses at the
nor th-east corner suggest a history of structural
problems, at least in that location. The main gate,
at the centre of the east side near the Norman
motte, has simple carved stone jambs, and retains a
wrought iron gate, in very poor condition. Another
gate, at the centre of the nor th side, gave access to
the garden from the farmyard, which stands immediately
adjacent, although at a much lower level.
There are several small structures built into the
nor th and west walls of the walled garden, of which
only the masonry walls survive. A timber framed
greenhouse stands near the centre of the garden
in an advanced state of deterioration. A masonry
headhouse survives at the nor th end of the greenhouse,
also badly deteriorated.
The garden paths are minimally maintained, and
there are remnants of the garden’s historical plantings,
including box borders and old apple trees.
SOUTH RANGE
Running along the south side of the west yard is a
long single-storey arcaded structure. This structure
is simpler that the other buildings in the yard, but
its stone arches display excellent craftsmanship. The
timber roof structure appears to have spread, putting
lateral stresses on the wall heads, causing an
outward lean to the arcade. A door through the
south wall of this building leads to an area to the
west of the walled garden.
Farm manager’s house, from north-east
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