7 Bishop’s Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Single storey asbestos slated cottage with entrance into narrow hall running from front to rear. There is a kitchen back return. Gable ended with chimney in each and another between. It is likely the house was direct entry but purpose of rooms have been altered with the addition of gabled back returns which is roofed with asbestos slates. Walls externally are dry dashed with black and white stones and cream coloured plaster with narrow patent reveal around windows. Windows are wood with sliding sashes divided into four panes. The principal interest in the dwelling is the cavern underneath which had an entrance in the ground at the west gable. This cavern according to the owner ran back under the house and then turned at right angles under the back return. When improvements had been carried out to the house several years ago a reinforced concrete floor was placed over the cavern. (See historical information below).

Historical information

The following is an extract from Ordnance Survey Memoirs Vol. 11 p. 24 “There is a cave at William Johnston’s back door in the townland of Lisnacrib. The mouth (which is now 15 years closed) when open would admit a man standing upright and three men could stand in a line across the cave inside. Thomas Johnston went into the cave about 10 yards, but could proceed no further from the stones which had fallen in and stopped the passage. The stones of the cave were regularly laid and appeared as if other apartments were inside. It is supposed to extend in a straight line about 20 yards, with rooms which the inhabitants suppose to extend under the dwelling house. An old dish of wood with a turned stick were found quite rotten inside the cave. From William Johnston, proprietor”. The owner did not know if a Johnston formerly occupied the house. The house was purchased by the owner's grandfather. The present house was built on the demolished walls of the previous house during the 1920s. The hearth wall was found to be earthen when demolished.

Reference
Ordnance Survey Memoir Vol. 11
Owner (1997)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Vernacular single storey house with pre 1831 structure much altered with external materials and some internal re-arrangement but is of great interest historically because of the cavern or souterrain over which it is built.