NIAH Description – No:14942016 Gloster House, BALLYBEG (CL.BY.), OFFALY – Buildings of Ireland
Single-arch folly with carved sandstone cornice to supporting piers flanked by obelisks, c.1730, with niches to bases of obelisks. Located to east of Gloster House on an elevated site terminating a view through mature woodlands.
Appraisal
This eye-catcher, known as “Gloster Obelisk”, is a wonderful example of an eighteenth-century folly. Reminiscent of the Castletown Obelisk, the folly at Gloster House is smaller. Nonetheless it creates a remarkable termination of the vista from the house, through a mature woodland, to the obelisk on an elevated height framed by the sky behind. Attributed to Edward Lovett Pearce, a leading exponent of Palladianism in Ireland, the obelisk was a form much favored by architects in the early eighteenth century.
Gloster Arch was featured in History Ireland: Gems of Architecture, Issue 4, (July/August 2020), Volume 28.
For more detailed information on the Folly, the Lloyd Family, Gloster house and demesne refer to Flights of Fancy – Follies, Families and Demesnes in Offaly by Rachel Mc Kenna; Gloster Chapter pp120-143
Conservation repairs were carried out in 2018 works were carried out as per Method Statement prepared by Southgate Associates. Works included: Ivy carefully removed, and two internal roots killed off with copper nails. Folly stabilised and repointed, small areas of reconstruction required. Extensive flanking walls also taken on as part of this project and rebuilt using existing stone providing the original setting once more for this magnificent folly.
Works were funded by Creative Ireland, Department grant (Built Heritage Investment Scheme 2018), Follies Trust, Apollo Foundation and Owner Funding. See Offaly County Council Report.
