Cottage/Barn at:

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Storey and a half cottage and barn to the rear of Nedd House, Tirmacoy. White washed walls, slate roof, roof lights, two small brick chimneys on ridge. Building aligns north-south with gable almost abutting Ned House at northern end and adjoining Ned Road at the south. To the west at an angle are a line of white washed barns.

At the northern end of the building is a cottage more recently used as a shop. Entrance door facing onto the courtyard, has an unusual rectangular fanlight. Finely made astragels form rectangular panes which diminish in height - an unusual pattern more akin to 1950s fenestration. The shop window to the north, partly blocked, has a similar glazing pattern aligning with the fan light. To the south is a door to a store room without fanlight. Further to the south are the back widows of a second cottage still occupied. Two of the three have had their original sashes replaced by metal casements. A single four pane sash remains in the centre of the group. At the end of the elevation is a door to a store under the first floor barn.

The southern gable has a door at high level access the first floor barn. At roof level the slates abut a strapped concrete parapet.

The west elevation has a small opening at high level to the barn, which is visually separated from the cottage by a black cast iron soil vent pipe. The cottage has a central door without fanlight, flanked by two four pane sash windows. Their alignment reveals that the eaves above is not horizontal but follows the slight slope in ground towards Nedd House. To the rear of the shop is a small window under the eaves.

Historical information

Building shown on 1830 Ordnance Survey Map. May date from the plantation period as claimed for other out houses in the area (e.g. Clagan House HB02/03/025). Townley family resident in Nedd House until 1925, are recorded in the Griffith’s Valuation of 1858 as living in the house and renting from the Fishmongers Company. A number of farms in the vicinity presently owned by Townleys testify to the settlement of that family in the area over a long period of time. Present occupant told us that Nedd House was constructed in 1909 and that prior to this the Townleys lived in the house now known as the shop. It was used as a shop until 1925 when the McSparrens bought the farm. A tenant always lived in the second cottage.

References:

OSS 1830
The Griffith’s Valuation 1858
Mr McSparren - Owner

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

An interesting vernacular building containing two cottages and a barn - one still used as a dwelling. The unusual hearth crook and the fanlights to the shop are of architectural and historical interest, though the fanlights may have been taken from a different building. Much of the building has been renovated or is in bad condition and it is unsuitable for listing.