Draft Rowlestown LAP - VDFP Pages 17-42 - Fingal County Council

1.5 Landscape Setting: Rural 

Countryside and Broadmeadow River 

The sense of place of Rowlestown is integral with its 

setting in the landscape and the particular characteristics 

of this landscape. Development objectives need to take 

account of character to be certain that distinctiveness of 

place is maintained during development of the village. 

Landscape qualities today are characterised here in 

images and summarised with guidelines to ensure that 

the integral quality of village and landscape is maintained 

as a development strategy. 

1.51 Rural Countryside: Photographic survey 

Surveyed in the autumn, the countryside is highly active 

in that season, with movement of farm machinery along 

country lanes (and the R125). 

...The scent of onions in the air… the golden remainder 

of the harvest; birds plundering the harvested fields for 

uncollected grain… horse chestnuts and a prolific 

harvest of uncollected conkers... russet leaves and 

striking red of virginia creeper… grazing sheep in 

sheltered grasslands. 

Image, this page, is taken from the country lane which leads past 

Rowlestown House in fields sheltered and enclosed by hedgerows of 

ancient mature trees. 

Rowlestown Village Development Framework Plan iCON Architecture | Urban Design | Conservation, with Cummins and Voortman Section 1 17

Rowlestown Village Development Framework Plan iCON Architecture | Urban Design | Conservation, with Cummins and Voortman Section 1 18

Image, previous page: Grazing sheep in grasslands sheltered by ancient, 

mature trees. Taken from the country lane which leads past 

Rowlestown House. 

Image, this page: modern dormer house and industrial scale grain 

production share the countryside, the house benefitting from plentiful 

hedges and trees around the river to give privacy and a discreet 

appearance within the vegetation. This integration, a symbiosis of living 

and landscape can only be maintained at relatively low densities. 


Autumnal Images show, on this page, fallen conkers below horse chestnut 

tree, and leaves, nuts and shells from a beech tree. The background of 

woodland from which these images were taken is the area around the Lawn 

Gates entrance to Rowlestown House 


1.51 Rural Countryside (continued) 

Defining the Rural Countryside 

Rowlestown’s location in a special landscape is its 

distinctive quality. 

The shaping of its immediate landscape in a low-‐lying 

area accentuates the relatively small contour changes on 

either side of the river. The steepness of the river’s banks, 

and the likelihood of occasional flooding as it flows 

through the village has helped to limit the building up of 

the river’s edge. The County Development Plan (CDP) 

policies incorporate a 30m riparian zone on either side of 

the river to help biodiversity and to allow for a flooding 

margin. OPW and ‘FEMFRAM’ studies extend some areas 

further in recently measured areas liable to flooding. 

These margins can accommodate recreational use and 

the enjoyment of nature, provided public access can be 

achieved. 

The immediate areas beyond the village experience 

pressure for development; there is potential conflict 

between natural heritage policies and residential 

development strategies, as the river and riparian zones 

traverse the central areas of the village. 

Further out from the village, there is sporadic 

development close to the river, but the scenery, in the 

main survives. The combined CDP policies of green 

infrastructure and natural heritage provide strong cause 

to limit development in deference to the value of the 

landscape, especially the river and margins and the fine 

mature eighteenth and nineteenth century demesne 

landscape and hedgerows. 


1.52 Rural Countryside policies from the Fingal 

Development Plan -‐ A Summary 

Fingal’s rivers support salmonid systems on several, including 

the Broadmeadow river. The 30m width of riparian corridor is 

needed to allow species such as otter, bat, kingfisher and 

dipper to thrive. “Because of their importance, all rivers will be 

maintained in an open, semi-‐natural condition, wherever 

possible.” 

The landscape is described as low-‐lying, a mix of arable and 

pasture farming. At Rowlestown, it varies from this general 

character because of the surrounding woodlands and river 

landscape. It is an objective “that all development proposals 

(should) include measures to protect and enhance 

biodiversity.” and to “ensure development reflects and, where 

possible, reinforces the distinctiveness and sense of place of 

the landscape character types...including various elements such 

as geology and landform, habitats, scenic quality, settlement 

pattern, historic heritage, local vernacular heritage, land-‐use 

and tranquility” 

“The major river corridors should be protected and improved 

by leaving a minimum 30 metre wide margin, on each side of 

these rivers, undeveloped and encouraging planting where 

appropriate, to enhance the landscape and habitat value of 

these corridors...Resist development such as houses… which 

would interfere with the character of highly sensitive areas or 

with a view or prospect of special amenity value, which it is 

necessary to preserve.” 

Among the Principles for Development, this advice is given on 

potential sites: “Sites with natural boundaries should be 

chosen, rather than open parts of larger fields. Clustering with 

existing farmhouse and/or farm buildings is generally preferable 

to stand-‐alone locations.” 

( Reference: Fingal County Development Plan 2011-‐2017) 


Above: Ducks foraging in the field at Lawn Gates, the entrance to Rowlestown House. No doubt the ducks, too, would appreciate easy access to the river. 

1.53 Broadmeadow River 

The river acts as a geographical feature which divides 

today’s village into north and south, with the two parallel 

roads, Church Road and R125, giving access to all the 

potential development areas. Thus, the river is actually a 

zone of natural vegetation which passes through the 

centre. The creation of a riverside walk with regular 

access to the development sites and the two roads, 

would make for a remarkable new network of walkable 

access in the village. At the same time it would be useful 

to plan walks to cross the river on pedestrian bridges. 

The images of the river which follow are those which may 

be obtained from public places, bridges and the R125. 

Right: Broadmeadow River downstream from the Rowlestown Bridge -‐ one 

of the few views available from public areas in the village. The river is set 

down in a deep cut to mitigate flooding. 

Far right: Potential access from the north side of the bridge and facing 

westwards, this path is barely accessible at present, and may not be a right 

of way. 


1.53 Broadmeadow River (continued) 

This area is visible from the eastern approach of the R125. 

It is a low lying flood plain on the Southern side and a 

quite steep escarpment on the northern side. Both sides 

so far have been kept free of development, and free 

from serious encroachment into the natural habitat. As 

part of a recreational corridor, this area might include a 

small lake. 

At the top of the escarpment, new houses overlook the 

river within a development on Church Road. The gable is 

a repetitive visual theme which does not dominate the 

scale of the riverside, although the positioning of the 

houses puts them on top of the horizon and quite 

conspicuous. Further planting at the upper level would 

help, in time, to diminish the visual impact. 


1.53 Broadmeadow River (continued) 

This is the easternmost point of the Local Area Plan 

Boundary. The bridge marks the boundary. Most of the 

lands visible in the images, left, occur within the flood 

plain and are precluded from development. The deep 

excavation, see below, of the riverbed to improve its 

capacity has left heaps of deposited gravel on the river 

bank. Time may further soften the crude intervention, 

and wildlife appears abundant in the area judging by the 

sight of two wading birds, seen in the photograph over 

the page; a grey heron, left and a little egret, right. 



1.53A. Development Guidelines for Landscape 

Setting: Rural Countryside and Broadmeadow 

River 

• The distinctive identity of Rowlestown is inseparable 

from its natural landscape and its historical 

development. This identity needs to be retained 

through development phases to maintain the character 

of place. 

• A strategy for protection should be put in place, not 

only for the Architectural Conservation Area, but for 

the Immediate and surrounding landscape of 

Rowlestown, including tree and hedgerow protection 

orders. 

• Management of the landscape should include further 

tree, shelter belt, screen and hedgerow planting to 

consolidate the existing landscape as development 

proceeds. 

• An inventory of biodiversity and the landscape 

elements should be undertaken. 

• Green corridors should be conserved. 

• The potential for extending green corridors should be 

retained in the development strategy as a long term 

measure, to ensure that future growth does not 

cut off the village from its landscape setting. 

• The quality and immediacy of the landscape within 

Rowlestown village suggests that future development 

should only be made at densities which take into 

account the fragility of balance between landscape and 

development. 

• The River, from the old school as far as the eastern 

bridge is already an ecological corridor of great beauty 

and recreational interest. An accessible route along 

the River would give a significant new amenity to the 

village. 

• Design approach should derive from a good 

understanding of the landscape within and around any 

development site. The design of the site should 

contribute positively towards the landscape heritage of 

the place. 

Type to enter text 

The corridor of nature running through Rowlestown 

• The distinctive identity of Rowlestown is inseparable from its natural landscape and its historical 

development. 

• The River, from the old school as far as the eastern bridge is already an ecological corridor of great beauty 

and recreational interest. An accessible route along the River would give a significant new amenity to the 

village. 


Small fish swirl together below the Broadmeadow River bridge at the eastern end of the Local Area Plan boundary 


1.6 Entering the Village 

1.61 Entrance from Swords and M1 

This entrance is well announced because the village 

stretches out in a ribbon of development towards 

Swords. Arriving from that direction, the first landmark 

point, circled in white, is Kettles Country House Hotel 

with a small agglomeration of detached bungalows at 

the start of Balcultry Road and Rath Road, followed by 

a zig-‐zag across the countryside, and a long run into the 

village proper underneath a canopy of trees. The 

landscape experience is eventful and interesting, but 

not enjoyable as the road is a busy regional road with 

heavy goods vehicles in prominence. It is 

uncomfortable for drivers, unpleasant for a pedestrian 

using the footpath along the road, and dangerous for a 

cyclist, as drivers maintain a high speed into and 

through the village. With little likelihood of bypassing 

the village there is a strong case for limiting the size of 

trucks and imposing effective traffic calming measures 

to give some comfort to cyclists and pedestrians. 


1.63 Local Road Entrance from North 

This entrance is a local lane originally serving fields and 

agriculture, and still apparently lightly used. It is a 

delightful sequence, a walk through a little changed 

landscape, passing by the farm entrance to Rowlestown 

House ➀ and along its boundary, sloping down to the 

sharp left turn into Church Road ➁. 

The lane, like others in the County, makes for ideal 

country walking, with glimpses across fields and a strong 

connection with nature and the farming landscape. 

Signalling the quality of the road by defining it as a ‘green 

lane’ for cyclists and pedestrians first would improve 

safety along the lane and may help to conserve its 

qualities for the future. 

1.63A. Development Guidance for Entrance 

from North 

• Consider defining the lane, along with others as a 

‘green lane’ with speed restriction and cycle and 

pedestrian priority 

• Traffic calming is effected already with narrow 

width, no footpaths and winding lane. 

• Continue to manage the lane with hedgerow 

trimming and verge cutting. 

➊ ➋ 


1.64 Local Road Entrance from 

East 

This entrance is also a local lane. It is the 

continuation of Church Road, and 

connects back to the R125. It appears to 

be busy during school arrival and 

departure times, but otherwise is 

relatively quiet. It may be identified as 

one of the lanes around Rowlestown 

which would be suited to a walking and 

cycling network allowing for loop walks. 

The stretch of lane eastwards after the 

church is relatively straight; cars travel at 

speed along this stretch and any 

proposal would need to take into 

account the need to reduce speed and 

increase safety for pedestrians and 

cyclists. 

➀ View looking back to church and 

community centre on Church Road. Car 

turning is heading for the entrance to 

the school on Rowlestown Drive. 

➁ Lane looking eastwards is straight 

with a series of entrances to individual 

houses and housing clusters. 

1.64A. Development Guidance for Entrance 

from East 

• Consider defining the lane, as a ‘green lane’ with 

speed restriction, and cycle and pedestrian 

priority 

• As there are numerous entrances with further 

development proposed, traffic calming is 

necessary; the lane is straight, and susceptible to 

speeding. 

• Continue to manage the lane with hedgerow 

trimming and verge cutting. 

➊ ➋ 


Rowlestown House, service entrance with farm 

outbuildings, virginia creeper and guard dog 


OSI permit, Fingal County 

Council 

1.7 Architectural Heritage 

1.71 Rowlestown House 

The OS 1839 42 map, left, gives a good impression of 

the house within its demesne. Built in 1780, there is a 

paddock or park, giving formal access through the 

Lawn Gates and supervised with a Gate Lodge. The 

gardens around the house are structured and appear 

to have walled gardens and orchard in sheltered 

areas. The access to the farmyard and rear is from the 

agricultural lane on its western side. 

The front of the house is a five bay symmetrical 

composition with unusually large windows. The 

window above the arched door has six panes for each 

of two sliding sashes, whereas the rest are four panes 

for each of two sliding sashes on the first floor, and 

two panes for each of two sliding sashes on the 

ground floor, suggesting at least two window 

replacements since its construction. Despite this and 

the unusually large proportion of window to wall, the 

facade is a handsome one and a piece of heritage in 

Rowlestown to cherish. 


➋ 

➌ 

➍ 

1.51 Rowlestowne House (continued): ➊ : ‘Lawn Gates’ , the original formal entrance to Rowlestown House, which had a gate lodge on the left, now gone. ➋: The garden seen through the side 

gate on the local lane at the side of the property ➌ : The rear courtyard of the house, through the gate at the side. ➍: Entrance gate from the side with corrugated iron roofed farm buildings covered in virginia creeper 

Rowlestown Village Development Framework Plan iCON Architecture | Urban Design | Conservation, with Cummins and Voortman Section 1 36 

➊

1.72 The Police Station, vernacular thatched 

cottages and Gate Lodge 

The image, right, from the nineteenth century shows the 

original Police Station, now extended, three thatched 

cottages, no longer there, and the slated gate lodge also 

demolished. The photograph was provided by the Begg 

family, who live in the refurbished and extended old 

Police Station. 

The old Police Station has been extended by two bays. 

The photograph provides a unique insight into the 

appearance of the village. Picture inset, left show the 

building today with its form and side arch through to the 

rear intact. Cottages have been replaced with a painted 

blockwork wall. The thatched cottage, barely visible on 

the picture beyond the station, is still there, although 

with corrugated iron roof. A precious image... 


1.73 Vernacular thatched cottage beyond 

the Police Station, and Gate Lodge 

The image, from the previous page, is used to 

make a comparison between the buildings on 

site today and the same buildings just about 

visible in the photograph. 

Both buildings are thatched in the original and 

have a corrugated iron replacement today. The 

earlier image confirms that the thatch was half-‐ 

hipped at the gable . 

The image, below, combines the current photo 

with the old one, confirming the match between 

the old gable and the replacement covering. 


Top, left: Bridge parapet and the gable of 

the Old Mill, held in mature riverside 

landscape. 

Top, centre: View of one of the 

corrugated iron roofs of the cluster of 

buildings of the Old Mill, taken from a 

higher vantage point. 

Bottom, left: Steep pitch of one of the 

hipped gables, and reducing thickness 

made in a gentle curve. 

Bottom, right: Image taken from 

YouTube video, showing some of the 

hirsting or hurst, the internal structure 

which contains the machinery of a water 

mill without conveying vibrations to the 

building structure 

1.74 Old Mill at Killossery, beside bridge 

The Old Mill is a remarkable survival from, it is said, 

the eighteenth century. Its position in the village is 

pivotal, at the junction between Old Killossery and 

Old Rowlestown, and beside the bridge across the 

Broadmeadow River. It is in deteriorated condition, 

but is capable of careful restoration to keep its 

essential qualities of structure, the mechanical parts 

inside still remaining, and even some of its fittings, 

such as the shop counter. These we would consider 

to be among the most important vernacular 

buildings in Co Fingal, especially as they act as a 

cluster. We would strongly recommend an action 

plan to save and restore these buildings for future 

generations.They make a natural gathering location 

for the village and could generate regional 

attraction as a centre for entertainment in the 

atmosphere of a really old group of buildings. 


1.75 The Church and Old Graveyard 

The church is a landmark building for the Village, 

with its tall bell-‐tower as the highest object in the 

area. The church was built around 1854 in gothic 

style with steep roof pitch. Close to the school 

and beside the community centre, this is the active 

centre of Rowlestown. The community centre is 

bulky, with a form which obstructs the fine, 

graceful angles of the church, yet it is a strong 

symbol of the community, and is in regular use 

during the week. 

The graveyard is probably the oldest occupied 

land in the area with the remains of an ancient 

church on the site. 

Above: Some of the most ancient headstones in the graveyard at Killossery, and right, the entrance gate and steps through the graveyard wall 


1.76 Old and New National Schools 

The Old National School was vacated some years 

ago, when a remarkable new school replaced it on a 

large site set back from but connected to Church 

Road along the newly constructed Rowlestown Drive. 

The old school, below, is a handsome building 

from the middle of the 20th century. Modernised and 

revitalised, it could be reused to fulfill some 

promising new function, yet to be discovered. It 

would be a pity to see such a usable agglomeration of 

built space being wasted. By contrast the new school 

is a generous and attractive modern answer to the 

idea of a school, accommodating a large number of 

children on a campus.However its detached location 

favours arrival and pick up by car, even for people 

living in the village. Better pedestrian and cycle links 

in the village and surroundings are possible, to 

overcome this drawback. 


Rowlestown Village Development Framework Plan iCON Architecture | Urban Design | Conservation, with Cummins and Voortman Section 1 42

Draft Rowlestown LAP - VDFP Pages 17-42 - Fingal County Council

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