Dwelling off White Lane

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Detached three-bay single-storey rubblestone thatched dwelling, built c.1830. Rectangular on plan facing north and located on an elevated site on the south side of Garron Road overlooking Red Bay.

Pitched corrugated asbestos sheeted roof with moulded steel ridge and rendered stone chimneystacks to either end. The central dividing wall between the two rooms supports timber purlins which run between the gables. Timber rafters run perpendicular and above the purlins, supporting sod and straw thatch below roof covering. Partial steel rainwater goods. Rough-cast render over uncoursed rubble white limestone walling. Square-headed window openings with a single steel casement window.

Symmetrical two-bay north front elevation with central square-headed door opening with partial timber frame in situ. Rendered dressings with shallow apex to flanking windows.

Blind east gable abutted by lean-to extension, now collapsed.

Two-bay south rear elevation built into the sloping terrain with two square-headed window openings.

Blind west gable.

Roof Corrugated asbestos sheeting over straw and sod thatch
RWG Steel (partial)
Walling Rough-cast render over uncoursed rubble white sandstone
Windows Steel casement

Setting:
Located on an elevated site on the south side of Garron Road overlooking Red Bay and accessed via a long lane, locally known as White Lane. Partially collapsed single-storey outbuilding to the north built in uncoursed rubble white limestone.

Historical information

The single-storey three-bay vernacular dwelling, located on the hills overlooking the Garron Road in the townland of Galboly Upper, may have been constructed as early as the 1830s. A simple rectangular-shaped structure was depicted on the first edition Ordnance Survey map (1832) on approximately the same location as the current building, however this map lacks the detail of later editions making the identification of this structure difficult to ascertain precisely. Further, the contemporary Townland Valuations (c. 1834) did not record this building in detail as it was not worth the £5 minimum required for inclusion in that source; in fact, there was not a single house in the townland of Galboly Upper which qualified.

The current single-storey vernacular cottage was first depicted with certainty on the second edition Ordnance Survey map (1857) which depicted the building along its current layout (including one of its outbuildings to the north-east). The contemporary Griffith’s Valuation (c. 1859) notes that the cottage was originally valued at £15 shillings and was leased by Frances Anne (Marchioness of Londonderry) to Alexander McAllister, a local farmer. McAlister continued to occupy the site until c. 1901 when the farmhouse was occupied by Charles O’Boyle. The 1901 Census of Ireland noted that O’Boyle was also employed as a farmer whilst the accompanying census building return described his property as a 3rd class dwelling that consisted of two inhabited rooms, possessed a thatched roof and a cowhouse, piggery and barn. The contemporary third edition Ordnance Survey map (1903) depicted both of the sites current outbuildings to the north-east side of the dwelling. The site was purchased outright by a Mr. James O’Boyle by at least the First General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1936-57) which recorded him as owner. James O’Boyle continued to reside at Galboly Upper until at least the end of the Second General Revaluation (1956-72) at which time the total rateable value of the site remained at £15.

Field inspection of the site, carried out as part of the Second Survey, has found that the vernacular cottage at Galboly Upper is currently lying in a state of disrepair and has had its original thatch replaced with a corrugated asbestos roof although a thatch and sod roof covering remains below.

References

Primary Sources
1. PRONI OS/6/1/20/1 – First Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1832)
2. PRONI OS/6/1/20/2 – Second Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1857)
3. PRONI OS/6/1/20/3 – Third Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1903)
4. PRONI OS/6/1/20/4 – Fourth Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1921)
5. PRONI VAL/1/A/1/20 – Townland Valuation Map (c. 1832)
6. PRONI VAL/1/B/147A-B – Townland Valuations (c. 1834)
7. PRONI VAL/2/B/1/38 – Griffith’s Valuation (c. 1859)
8. PRONI VAL/12/B/7/1A-E – Annual Revisions (1863-1929)
9. PRONI VAL/3/C/1/21 – First General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1936-57)
10. PRONI VAL/4/B/1/35 – Second General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1956-72)
11. Ulster Town Directories (1861-1918)
12. Census of Ireland (1901; 1911)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Detached vernacular two-bay single-storey rubblestone former thatched dwelling, built c.1830. Located on an elevated site on the south side of Garron Road overlooking Red Bay and accessed via a long lane, locally known as White Lane. The house is an important feature of the landscape and is of local significance. Insufficient historic fabric remains however to merit listing.