Rathfad Cottage

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A storey and a half former thatched cottage parallel to Aghanloo Road and facing east. Entrance door with square fanlight off centre. Two large two pane sashes to south, three smaller to north which follow the upward slope of the road. Three chimneys on ridge of asbestos slate roof, one on each gable, one to the right of door. One high level window to each gable. Scullery lean-to at different pitch to main roof at back of house. This continues wall of south gable. Chimney rises from junction. Lean to continues along half of rear (west) elevation. Metal mullioned window to scullery smaller two pane window to stairs. Back door in north gable of leanto. Row of barns behind building at slight angle forms a ‘street’.

Historical information

The building was formerly thatched but this was replaced by an asbestos slate roof in 1955. It is shown on the 1831 map. The present owner's family have lived in the house for many generations. The owners intend to demolish the house after consultation with the grants department of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and build a replacement dwelling.

Reference:
Owner (1997)
O.S S 1831

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A substantially intact pre 1830 vernacular farm dwelling with a lot of similarities to Rose Cottage (HB02/11/012) which is 70 metres due south on Aghanloo Road. Both have a steeply sloping roof of similar pitch. The detail at the top of the brick chimneys is the same. Most importantly the interior arrangement of an entrance corridor with a view to the kitchen room is the same. In this building the roof space is still in use though the access stairs are more recent. While Rose Cottage is four structural bays long this building is three structural bays. Its elevation shows none of the formality of Rose Cottage and is thus more ‘vernacular’. It is likely that the listed building once had a similar informal grouping