Streeve House

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A brick built two storey gabled house three bays wide with central semi-circular fanlight doorway facing north with long two storey back return in line with the east gable. All roofs are of natural slates with five brick chimneys. On the entrance facade solid walling greatly predominates over void and the windows are wide sashes with 20 panes each and having sandstone cills. The first floor windows are slightly narrower than those below while the window over the door is much narrower and has only 12 panes. A double row of slightly projecting bricks runs along the long walls and along those of the return as if the house was single storey at one time and this was an eaves course. The sandstone door case has a plain pilaster on each side with blocking pieces and at the head a moulded cornice. Above the cornice the semi-circular fanlight with moulded sandstone surround. The fanlight is divided into three panes with pointed shapes. The door frame with white painted double three panelled doors would appear to be later insertions as there is a double timber frame. The sandstone appears to be original as the double brick course rises slightly over the fanlight. The return which is five bays long is rendered and painted white on the east side together with the adjoining gable. Here the openings all have a raised smooth plaster surround. New windows have been inserted with Georgian panes, half round iron guttering and downpipes with trunkheads.

Behind the house and beyond the return is a range of outhouses in brick and enclosing a square farmyard in the centre of which is built a square barn with segmented corrugated iron roof and built of basalt and brick. To the east of the house was a walled garden which has been removed except for the west wall retained as a screen.

The house is set in mature landscape with a winding avenue approach to its elevated location from the Dowland Road. Where the avenue meets the road the gates and piers have been removed and recently the piers rebuilt. Across the road is a small derelict brick built single storey gate lodge which was part of Streeve House

Historical information

In 1835 Streeve House was the residence of Marcus Gage and the Ordnance Survey Memoirs states “the house was built about 100 years ago and was originally used as a residence for two families, but it has been altered and improved by the present proprietor” (McCausland). “In 1833 he built an entrance lodge and made a new avenue which winds around the base of a hill”… The back return was probably the 2nd residence and it is likely before 1835 the building was single storey. It is said that the first floor was later removed and in c1960 was re-added with the bricks of the demolished wall garden.

References:
Ordnance Survey Maps 1831
Ordnance Survey Memoir Vol. 9
The Gate Lodges of Ulster - Dean
Occupants (1997)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

An interesting late Georgian house with earlier Georgian detail to front door and internal door architraves.