Offaly Record of Protected Structures – No 39-48 Record-of-Protected-Structures.pdf
Description: Banagher Corporation 1628 Plantation workers’ cottage. A possible surviving example of a seventeenth-century workers’ cottage, can be found on the south aspect of Queen Street (Puckagh Row) approximately 80m from Main Street. It is consistent with the Logan map c.1828 below, First and Second Edition OS maps and is situated very close to the roadside. It is a modest single storey cottage structure of random rubble, with traditional half door, and two window openings, the smallest of which appears to be original. It stands alone today, however the rubble stonewall of the front elevation is jagged in profile, suggesting it was formerly part of a terrace. The gable wall is of rubble stone to the eaves level, and has been built up in concrete blockwork to enclose the attic gable. The pitched roof is of modern concrete tiles, which most likely replaced traditional thatch.
Appraisal: The Urban Archaeological Survey of County Offaly (1986), John Bradley identified Banagher as an important archaeological centre and recommended the need for further studies on the town’s heritage and was included in the statutory Record of Monuments and Places (RMP) as a ‘historic town’. Further study with the Plan prepared by Howley Hayes, identify this property as part of the creation of new street, Puckagh Row [Queen Street] with terraces of corporation workers’ cottages and shared commonage to the rear. Refer also to the Banagher Conservation, Interpretation and Management Plan commissioned by Banagher Development Group to inform future works. The study was undertaken by Howley Hayes architects and Eoghan Broderick. This was amended and updated in 2022.
Conservation works were carried out in 2022 and included the replacement of modern windows with historically accurate windows.
Repairs to the house were assisted by Creative Ireland Vernacular Grant and private funding.
For further information refer to attached report by Rachel McKenna, Offaly County Council, Senior Executive Architect.
