The Laurels, Prospect Avenue, Westport, Co. Mayo

LOCATION

Located at the end of Prospect Avenue which is off Johns Row in Westport town centre. This is a historic part of Westport which has a long and varied history. Located behind secure gates, The Laurels enjoys a private location, yet is only a few minutes walk from the town centre making this very rare indeed. The property is in close proximity to the excellent retail, business and leisure facilities of Westport.

Westport is the tourist capital and needs no introduction. Positioned on the Wild Atlantic Way and on the inner shores of Clew Bay, Westport is easily accessible via road, rail or flying. Local amenities include, Croagh Patrick, Championship Golf, The Greenway, Fresh and Saltwater Fishing, Sea Swimming, Sailing, Blue Falg Beaches and Westport House Estate.

DESCRIPTION

The property was a former Infantry Barracks and Hospital dating from 1794 but has been in residential use since about 1901. It is a detached, two-storey period house split over 4 levels – lower ground floor, ground floor, upper ground and first floor. The property is in poor condition throughout and would need extensive refurbishment.

Constructed of dashed render over masonry walls, uPVC double glazed windows all under pitched slate roofs. The property is arranged over 4 half floor levels but is essentially a two storey property which has been extended to the rear and side. It is accessed via secure gates over a small courtyard finished in tarmac. The remainder of the grounds are under grass with the rear lawn sloping down away from the house. The site appears to be c. 0.065 Ha (c. 0.16 Acres).

HISTORY

The property is recorded within the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage as follows;

Detached four-bay two-storey hospital, built 1794, originally three-bay two-storey on a symmetrical plan. Sold, 1901. Renovated to accommodate continued private residential use. Pitched slate roof with clay ridge tiles, coping to gables with cement rendered chimney stacks to apexes having concrete capping supporting terracotta or yellow terracotta tapered pots, and replacement uPVC rainwater goods on rendered cut-limestone eaves retaining cast-iron hoppers and downpipes. Roughcast walls. Square-headed central door opening with cut-limestone threshold, and drag edged dragged cut-limestone block-and-start surround centred on triple keystone framing timber panelled door having over light. Square-headed window openings with drag edged dragged cut-limestone sills, and concealed dressings framing replacement uPVC casement windows replacing six-over-six timber sash windows. Interior including (ground floor): central hall retaining timber surrounds to door openings framing timber panelled doors; and timber surrounds to door openings to remainder framing timber panelled doors with timber panelled shutters to window openings. Set in grounds originally shared with Westport Infantry Barrack.

A hospital surviving as an interesting relic of the late eighteenth-century Westport Infantry Barrack (Accounts and Papers. Army; Navy; Ordnance 1847, 74) with the architectural value of the composition suggested by such attributes as the compact rectilinear plan form centred on a robust doorcase demonstrating good quality workmanship; and the uniform or near-uniform proportions of the openings on each floor: meanwhile, aspects of the composition clearly illustrate the later development or “improvement” of the hospital following the sale of the complex (1901) ‘by government authorities’ (Westport Estate Papers). Having been reasonably well maintained, the elementary form and massing survive intact together with quantities of the historic or original fabric, both to the exterior and to the interior: the introduction of replacement fittings to most of the openings, however, has not had a beneficial impact on the character or integrity of a hospital forming part of a neat self-contained group alongside adjacent officers’ houses (see 31212154 – 31212157) with the resulting ensemble making a pleasing visual statement in Prospect Avenue.

PLANNING

The property is Pre 1963 so there is no planning pertaining. The property is not listed as a Protected Structure but it is on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage as being of regional importance.

SERVICES

All main services are either connected or available to the property.

BER – G – 114503501

TITLE

Registered Leasehold Title held within Folio MY2565L

ACCOMMODATION COMPRISES:

Ground – Entrance Hall-split level, Living Room, Dining Room, Scullery
Lower Ground Floor – Hallway, Bedroom 1, Bedrooms 2
First Floor Return – Bedroom 3
First Floor – Landing, Bedroom 4, Bedroom 5

The property has a net total floor area of about 111.48 sq.m (1,200 sq. t) and a gross floor area of approximately 170sq.m (1,830sq.ft)

ASKING PRICE 475,000

DIRECTIONS

Follow directions for Eircode F28 P283