Mount Prospect House (Apartments.)

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Former single and 2 storey outbuilding in an L plan enclosing farmyard with house and other outbuildings. Walls rendered, roofs slated and gabled. The L plan outbuildings are now converted to 3 chalets, keeping the original form as much as possible.

The S E façade of the upper 2 storey section is 4 bays wide, though 1 bay has no windows and comprises 1 chalet. This façade has a door with lean-to, bracketed and slated canopy. On either side sliding sash 4 pane windows, presumably reconstructed in former openings. Between door and window at first floor there is a single sliding sash 4 pane window slightly larger than those below. The walls are rendered and painted white, gutters metal and half round with round downpipes at each end. The roof has natural slates, gabled and with single chimney stack asymmetrically placed but roughly in line with the entrance door below. 4 no. rooflights arranged on roof.

Against the N E gable there is a hipped lean-to roof covering the knuckle of the L. This roof is part of the former barn. The opposite gable has a small projecting balcony with simple metal balusters and a pair of glazed panel doors opening out. The gable wall is roughcast rendered with good texture and the barge is a thin smooth plaster fillet stiffening the slate overhang.

The rear elevation has 3 openings haphazardly placed but again presumably occupying former openings. One is a pair of 2 panel glazed doors opening out at a ground floor terrace. Two sliding sash 4 pane windows fill the other openings. There aren’t openings at first floor but 5 slit vents have been retained . They are sealed. Gutters and downpipes similar, gutter supported on metal brackets over slightly projecting corbel course. Roof in natural slates with a series of rooflights and the upper part of roof peppered with roof vents.

The lean-to roof is arried down to provide a roof over a heating chamber, neatly done. A pair of 2 pane panelled doors is at ground level and beyond a door to the heating chamber. This façade overlooks a grassed elongated court closed on sides by other farm buildings.

The long arm of the L plan is single storey from the knuckle and ends in a storey and a half with a higher ridge line. Again the door and window openings, haphazardly arranged, are original openings with new in fill. Windows are 4 no.as before in painted wood. One door with canopy, the other without. Roof slated as before, 2 solid chimney stacks on the ridge of the single storey part, half round guttering supported as before with projecting corbel course. Walls rendered and painted. The walls are relieved with a series of projecting plant containers.

On the wall of the 1½ storey end is a datestone – built 1721-2000. This date must refer to the original house (see HB02/05/001A). These barns are not shown on the 1830 O.S. map nor 1856 revision.

The gable end retains the original high level door opening and the corners are neatly rounded. The rear elevation of this block is again treated in like manner to the other with original openings. 7 no.openings are retained and fitted with sliding sash 4 pane windows. Since there is a drop in level to the laneway behind the high plinth is battered.

These outbuildings, now chalets, form an intimate relationship with the dwelling house and other outbuildings. The sequence of spaces, laneways and passageways have been well organised and arranged bearing in mind that the complex is a working farm and a progressive one. The owner is much involved in farming organisation.

Historical information

The barns date from the 2nd half of the 19th cent. and may have originally contained some worker’s accommodation. In 1996 plans were prepared for conversion of outbuildings to chalets of the self catering type. Work completed early in year 2000. Architect Alastair Coey, Belfast.

References

Primary Sources
1. O.S. Map 1830 Londonderry sh. 30.
2. O.S. Map 1830 Rev. 1856 Londonderry sh. 30
3. O.S. Map 1830 Rev. 1905 Londonderry sh. 30
4. Notes, 1st Survey, Built Heritage, 5-33 Hill Street, Belfast

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
H-. Alterations detracting from building
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

An interesting and successful change of use of existing 19th cent. farm outbuildings to self catering accommodation. It illustrates what can be done with a sympathetic and sensitive approach. The former ambience has been retained and spaces about the complex neatly interwoven with the varied activities.