Vernacular houses

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Detached single-storey whitewashed stone former thatched dwelling, pre-dating 1831. Rectangular on plan, facing east and located on an elevated site to the west of Ballybogey Road.

Built in two or three distinct phases with a lower roof to the southern half having natural slate, black clay ridge tiles and a central ridge surmounted by a red brick chimneystack and a further chimneystack to the south gable. The north has a pitched artificial slate roof with shaped tiles, clay ridge tiles and cement verges having brown brick chimneystacks to either end. Whitewashed rubblestone walling throughout with some red brick surrounds to window openings. Square-headed window openings with slate or cement sills and 6/6 timber sash windows with exposed sash boxes.

Front elevation is six openings wide with a slightly lower façade to the southern half. Two door openings to the north end with sheeted timber doors and a single rectangular overlight. Two central window openings and single-bay byre to the south end; window opening with timber lintel and door opening having sheeted timber door.

Blank rubblestone south gable with cement parged verges.

Rear elevation is five windows wide retaining a single timber sash window having timber lintel.

Blank rubblestone north gable with cement parged verges.

Setting
Located on an elevated site at the end of a long lane to the west of Ballybogy Road (B62). Small single-storey rubblestone building to the south and a further structure to the east.

Roof Natural and fibre cement slate
RWG None
Walling Rubblestone
Windows Timber sash

Historical information

The three structures on the site today all pre-date the first edition OS map of 1831-2, although the former dwelling house to the east of the plot was originally part of a much longer range. The present buildings together with another group of dwellings to the north east, is captioned ‘Ballyhome Lower’ on the second edition OS map of 1855 and on subsequent editions.

At the time of Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64) the two dwellings on the site, both valued at £1.5s, were occupied by James and Wilson Gaston and each was situated on a plot of over 13 acres. The farms were leased from James Hannay. The two farms passed down through the Gaston family and at the time of the 1901 census were both occupied by 74-year-old farmer, Catherine Gaston, and her 64-year-old niece who kept house. Only one dwelling appears to have been occupied at this time, the present three-room thatched cottage which was designated second class.

By the 1930s the former dwelling houses had passed to James T McClean and were in use as agricultural outbuildings. The dwelling house to the west, now partially slated, partially tin-roofed was in use as a cattle shed. The second former dwelling house to the east, still thatched in the 1930s, was an outbuilding with an attached, slated cattle shed. A further structure to the south of the two dwelling houses was roofed with corrugated iron and used as a store.

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/1/6/1 First Edition OS Map 1831-2
2. PRONI OS/6/1/6/2 Second Edition OS map 1855
3. PRONI OS/6/1/6/3 Third Edition OS Map 1904
4. PRONI OS/6/1/6/4 Fourth Edition OS Map 1922-31
5. PRONI OS/6/1/6/5 Fifth Edition OS Map 1946-50
6. PRONI VAL/12/B/6/1A-F – Annual Revisions (1862-1929)
7. PRONI VAL/12/B/4/4A-CAnnual Revisions (1895-1930)
8. PRONI VAL/3/C/1/15 First General Revaluation 1933-57
9. PRONI VAL/3/D/1/8/U/1 First General Revaluation 1933-57
10. 1901 census online

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

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

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest
R. Age
S. Authenticity

Evaluation

Two former single-storey stone dwellings, predating 1831 located on an elevated site at the end of a long lane to the west of Ballybogey Road (B62). These former dwellings although somewhat altered retain much of their external character and are sited on a prominent, elevated, unspoiled setting. Internally the original hearth, joinery and windows make this an interesting and rare example of a pair of early nineteenth century vernacular houses.

General comments

Listing Criteria R - Age and S - Authenticity also apply.