Hazelwood House, Sligo 3.8

Hazelwood House is an 18th-century Palladian style country house located in a 70acre demesne in the parish of Calry, some 2mi south-east of the town of Sligo in north-west Ireland. It has been described as one of County Sligo's most neglected treasures. In addition to its very high quality architectural value, the house is important both socially and historically.LocationSituated on a peninsula jutting into Lough Gill east of Sligo town with views of Ben Bulben to the north, the house stands in a wooded estate originally 15000acre in extent, but now reduced to 81acre.ArchitectureThe house is noted as the first Palladian house in Ireland designed by Richard Cassels (c.1730), the architect who designed Leinster House, Powerscourt House and Russborough House.It consists of a 5-bay by 3-bay main block in three storeys with 2-storey wings on either side connected to the main block by single-storey quadrants. The building is constructed of limestone ashlar with slate roofs.The house has suffered decades of neglect and inappropriate alteration.In the 1870s, a three-bay, two-storey wing was added on the western side of the main block. The main staircase was removed in the 1950s and replaced with a concrete flight of stairs. Many chimney pieces were stolen and replaced with replicas.HistoryThe original name for the area is Annagh meaning "marsh" and was on land belonging to the Ó Conchobhair Sligigh Lords of the territory of Cairbre Drom Cliabh.