Go-ahead for restoration of Rosses Point’s Elsinore
PLANNING permission has been granted for an ambitious plan to reconstruct and restore the famous Elsinore House in Rosses Point.
The house, which has been described as “in an advanced state of dereliction”, is reported to have been built by a 19th century merchant and smuggler but is best known for its connection with the Yeats family. The planning approval has been granted to Heather Chave-Cox, described as the majority shareowner and making the application with the consent of the other shareholders of the Middleton estate which owns the property. Permission has been givent for the preservation of Elsinore House, which is a protected structure, and associated coach house as a phased development.
Phase 1 is to be the reconstruction, restoration and change of use of the coach house to a single dwelling unit. Works will include raising of the roof level, construction of a one and half storey rear extension, single storey side extension with roof terrace and inclusion of photovoltaic (solar electic) panels.
Phase 2 will be the reconstruction and restoration of the main house to provide a single family dwelling. Work will include the restoration of the roof and collapsed structural walls, reinstatement of trelliswork portico to front, modified replacement of a two-storey extension to the rear with walkway to first floor balcony over side yard, reconstruction of former vinery at side gable and restoration of castellated follies. A pumping station will be installed to connect both houses to the public sewer.
The council planner in his report, noted that both Elsinore House and the associated outbuildings were “in an advanced state of dereliction”. The report stated that the house and outbuildings have been “abandoned for several decades and are currently in a dilapidated and dangerous condition”.
A conservation report prepared by conservation architect Duncan McLaren describes Elisnore as “a regency period, summer bathing villa, constructed sometime early in the 19th century”.
It also states: “In addition to tales of the supernatural inspired by the setting, there are also stories of smuggling associated with the area. It is reported that Elsinore was built by John Black (‘Black Jack’), a successful merchant and alleged smuggler.
“From descriptions of Black’s house, it seems more likely that the original building was remodelled or reconstructed in the first quarter of the 19th century.
“The house was advertised to let in 1831 as a ‘beautiful marine villa with a veranda and an entrance lodge, along with a well cropped garden and the grass of four acres of land well enclosed’.
“Black died of cholera in 1832 and afterwards the Coopers of Markree Castle, who were landlords of Rosses Point, let the house, mostly for uses as a seasonal bathing villa. Reference is made by Lewis in 1837 to the house being occupied by an R. Young Esq.”
The report suggests that the house “almost certainly followed a design published by a fashionable architect in one of the contemporary pattern books setting out proposals for rural houses and villas”.
It goes on: “Its castellated design and naming after Elsinore Castle, a reference both to Hamlet and the location overlooking a shipping channel controlling access to the Baltic, also strongly suggests the influence of the ascendancy in its conception.”
The report states that it seems the Coopers were instrumental in the development of Rosses Point as a fashionable resort amongst the Protestant community.
“A short time after Edward Cooper’s death in 1863, Elsinore and over 350 acres of surrounding land were sold on to William Middleton, by whom the Rosses was developed as a commercial venture separate from his other commercial interests with business partner William Pollexfen.”
It states that Elsinore is best known for its connection with the Yeats family, cousins of the Middletons.
“Like others in their connection much of their childhood summers were spent at Rosses Point and, afterwards, they were also to return here annually for many years. “Elsinore, and its setting at Rosses Point, feature prominently in the writing of William Butler Yeats and in the paintings and drawings of his brother Jack Butler Yeats.”
The report refers to the need for urgent intervention. It says: “The outbuildings are already unroofed and the roof of the house in in a precarious state. The western section of the house has already collapsed and the remaining structure is in need of urgent intervention before the building is lost completely.”
It states that “action has been delayed by uncertainty over ownership of the building”.
“While this has only recently been resolved, there are still a large number of people, in other countries, who are part owners of the estate who will need to be consulted before action can be taken.”
It also points out that “given the condition of the building and its relatively large size, this a task that should not be underestimated”.
The report states that the value of the house as a single private residence will have been affected by its setting and views being compromised by the work undertaken in recent decades to develop a shoreside walk and lifeboat station. It goes on: “Because of the scale and complexity of the repair work that will be necessary, it is likely that the value of the building, either as a house or for other uses, may not be realised without technical and financial assistance being made available to whoever were to take on the task.”