A Future for Irish Historic Houses - Irish Heritage Trust

The present condition of these also varies greatly according to the levels of
commitment which it was possible for previous generations to give to their
conservation and restoration. In addition the future scenario related to the issue of
commitment can be bleak. As an owner put it: ‘I think it involves a huge amount of
work…. It isn’t necessarily going to be someone else’s cup of tea after me to do it. I
think it alternates.’
It is also true that the present condition of these houses reflects negatively upon
government fiscal policy that up to the 1980s made it very difficult for owners to
attempt to address restoration and conservation issues. Fiscal and other changes since
then - which have provided at least some incentive to invest money in restoration and
conservation - have meant that the present generation of owners are arguably more
committed to the preservation of their houses than their predecessors.
One of the most fundamental problems facing present owners is related to the fact that
as private houses they are much too large for ordinary family residences and much too
expensive to maintain on a private income. Temple House in Sligo, to take but one
example, has more than ninety rooms and even though it operates as a guesthouse,
only about 30 per cent of the house is actually in use. Because owners, either by
choice or by necessity, are neglecting large areas of their houses such as the
basements, top storeys (usually former servants’ quarters), wings and towers, this is
causing serious long term problems for the whole fabric of the house. Neglect leads to
dry rot, wet rot and so on invading large areas and spreading rapidly. The resulting
deterioration exacerbates the maintenance problems.
Nearly all owners claimed that at least part(s) of their houses required some major
restoration or conservation work. For the majority of owners, restoration is going to
be a very expensive and long drawn out process. The small number of houses in good
order or likely to have their problems remedied in the short term include Beaulieu,
Glin Castle and Slane, all of which are having or have had very significant sums of
money spent on restoration.
An indication of the restoration and conservation problems facing each individual
house is given in Appendix II. The most common and most expensive restoration
problems facing owners relate to roofs. There are owners who have been faced with
bills of up to €650,000 for the repair of their roofs. Some who have been unable to
afford this type of capital outlay have carried out temporary repairs that are crude and
in the long term will possibly do more harm than good. There is an ongoing struggle
against leaks coming through valleys, gutters, roof windows and chimneystacks.
Damaged and leaking roofs cause incalculable problems to the interior fabric as a
result of damp, which is the cause of the most common problems found in historic
houses and the principal cause of decay. Damp softens timbers and it weakens the
physical composition of materials. Consequently, plasterwork is destroyed, ceilings
cave in, wallpaper is damaged and so on. Most houses have several areas of dry rot
and/or wet rot. There are rooms in houses such as Castle Leslie that are in an
advanced state of dereliction where plaster ceilings have collapsed and floor joists and
flooring have rotted.
Windows are another ubiquitous problem. Well-maintained and easily opened
windows are essential for ventilation, which plays an important role in the healthy
21