Every single day I pass Newtown House in Tramore and it’s like it just doesn’t want to be noticed any more or, worse still, photographed.
It dates back to the 1750s and is described in An Introduction to the Architectural Heritage of County Waterford as follows:
… Newtown House (c.1750), Tramore, a substantial five -bay house with enclosed porch….. This attractive, substantial house of solid massing is historically associated with the Power family; a wing was added in the mid twentieth century and accommodates a private chapel.
One of the lovely features of Newtown House is its location. It has stunning views of Tramore Bay and there are remnants of a walled garden which is now used as a soccer field.
It was converted into Bed and Breakfast accommodation around the 1970s and has falling into complete disrepair, especially after a couple of fires, in the last decade or so.
Deep within the abandonment of the house lies some hints of its past:
Beating one’s way around the back through briars, there are some fairly intact windows that draw ponderings about the former inhabitants and how they must have loved the views of the the Bay when they opened the shutters:
Something that matters hugely to me is that it was the O’Neill -Power family from Newtown House who were responsible for planting my precious Newtown Wood in the early 19th Century when they opened an avenue from the Metal Man landmark to Newtown Cove.
I live in hope every evening when I see Newtown House at sunset that it will experience a new dawn that will see it rise again from its abandoned state.
SOCIAL BRIDGE ~ Jean Tubridy connecting with you from Ireland 
Real estate agents call that a handyman’s special which needs just a little TLC.
Hi CM, I suspect that if a real estate agent saw its true state that even he/she would wonder whether a little TLC would be worth a jot at this stage. I’d love to think that that’s all it would need!
Methinks it needs a LOT of TLC… but could be so beautiful…
Dale, I’m not even sure that TLC is the right road here. Radical overhaul with TLC, perhaps.
Ha ha ha!! You may be right!
I fear I may be!
What a shame. It looked like it was a proud structure once. So sad.
Very proud indeed, even in my memory and that doesn’t go back quite as far as 1750.
It’s sad to see such a regal house fall into a state of disrepair..A song that comes to mind is “This Old House” by Rosemary Clooney…
Hi Joni, I was thinking of that song when I was writing the post. You are a bit of a mind reader, I often think. xx
Yes, I can see shades of its glory days when viewed at sunset. It does make me sad to see such splendor abandoned. I see many photos of castles all around the world that still hold magic in them but are crumbling as nature reclaims what came from her.
Sandy, I agree with you about the multitude of buildings that are abandoned and just crumble. I suppose it all comes down to money at the end of the day.
What a terrible shame. I hope someone restores it!
Me too. They’d want to hurry, though, as it isn’t bearing up very well these times.
Wow, that’s special – looks a little precarious – does it have cellars?
Yes, cellars aplenty from what I can see from the back. More than a ‘little’ precarious, unfortunately.
I love the architecture of that time period. Such a shame to see it in that dilapidated state, although it has a certain shabby chic appeal of its own. It would be a dream to refurbish as close as possible to its original state — apart from the lack of central heating, of course!
Sarah, I love the notion of ‘shabby chic appeal.’ Must remember that if I ever need to describe myself!
Yes, a dream to have it refurbished. I could live in it without central heating. Lots of fireplaces and a few stoves.
Yes, I guess the “shabby chic appeal” would work as a description of me, too!
I doubt we’re in the same ‘shabby’ league and I suspect your ‘chicness’ is far superior to mine.x
I know that if I have to look smart, it makes me feel very awkward. Much prefer to dress in baggy jumpers and leggings worn with flat boots or clogs. Definitely, I put comfort above all else when it comes to clothing. Also, I never wear make-up and am allowing my hair to go grey! x
Ah yeah, we’re in the same sort of league!!
Always so sad to see derelict properties like this. With their going we lose a little bit of social history. Such a shame for it to have lasted for such a long time only to be destroyed by fire and vandalised.
It’s certainly a central building in the social history of this area and to lose it would be to see the past die before our eyes.
Sad indeed – it’s easy to imagine its Ascendancy heyday with squires riding to hounds, whipping the peasantry out of the way. It’s a particular charm of Ireland that these places are not swept away as they might well be elsewhere. We can still relate to them, and we still have the legacy of the Woods.
I don’t think it was quite as uppity as that, Roy, though I haven’t unearthed much about its social history (yet).
The Woods are a wonderful legacy indeed.
I would like to take pictures of this house, who may I ask?
Thank you
I am sorry but I don’t know. It has been cordoned off since I took my ones.