Farm yard

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Freestanding quadrangular basalt farmyard complex with detached single-storey stable block, built c.1850, located at the east side of Dundarave Estate. All ranges are single storey with the exception of the east range, which is two storey; at its centre is a roofless range projecting into the yard. The south end of the east range was converted to a dwelling, c.1960.

Pitched roofs, generally natural slate; north range has repairs in artificial slate and corrugated metal sheeting; ventilation lanterns to east, west and north ranges; brick chimneystacks to south and east, east end of south range has a series of tall redbrick chimneystacks set over wall head. Projecting brick eaves band, with remains of drive in brackets; gutters gone; cast-iron downpipes and hopper heads. Walling is basalt rubble, built to courses, with brick quoins and limestone and brick dressings. Variety windows and openings including timber framed 16/16 sashes without horns, timber sheeted loading doors, and half-louvred windows; all in stepped brick reveals over projecting stone cills. Doors are generally timber sheeted.

External elevations:
West range has central gabled entrance arch with segmental opening having chamfered ashlar limestone surround; opening formerly containing dovecote to apex. Four openings to right; south end (house) has replacement C20 timber casements in patent reveals. No openings to left of centre with the exception of a series of seven brick-lined ventilation loops.

North range has two half-louvred openings to right and infilled segmental door opening to their left. Otherwise blank with the exception of high level ventilation openings.

East range is two storey; the north end is blank; it has a series of openings across first floor; ground floor has a segmental-headed coach arch with stone surround and latge timber sheeted doors; to its right is a single half-louvred opening and infilled coach arch; to its left four high-level openings with bottom-hung casement openers. The south end has a single ground floor window.

South range has a series of original openings; west end has C20 modified openings, with wide rendered reveals including an enlarged window and timber entrance door.

Internal elevations:
West range has three openings including recessed porch with segmental opening to left of entrance arch; varied openings to right, all stone-dressed with segmental heads, inlcuding three vehicular openings (one with modern metal sheeted doors), and a window with wide brick releving arch over. The dovecote opening on this side retains its timber fitting.

North range has series of regularly spaced window and door openings with stepped stone and brick dressings; most are partially infilled with concrete block.

South range is centrally abutted by the perpendicular roofless range; the entrance arch is right of centre. To left and right, first floor has four brick-dressed openings. Ground floor left has a conjoined pair of segmental vehicular openings with stone surrounds with a narrow door opening to their right, a brick-dressed window opening, and an additional door. Ground floor right has three window openings with replacement windows, and a door with stone surround to right end.

East range has a series of closely spaced window and door openings with a variety of dressings.

Stable:
The stable block is located to west of the courtyard; fabric has been renewed. It has a replacement slate roof with terracotta ridges and replacement profiled aluminium rainwater goods. Walls are as main yard with brick quoins and rear elevation is cement rendered. Openings to east elevation only, comprising an aracde of ten segmental openings with brick dressings, separated by octagonal stone columns with plinths and plain capitals.

Setting:
Located at the east side of the Dundarave Estate, adjacent to the walled garden (HB05/08/005E). Opposite to south is a range of tractor sheds and roofless structure, of no interest. There is also a stone gardener's cottage to SW, modified and of no interest. The yard appears to retain no original surface features; there is an enclosure to NE retaining remains of two dressed stone gate piers, and a water tank (maker's mark 'Kennedy & Son, Coleraine').

Roof: Slate
Walling: Basalt
RWG: Gone
Windows: Timber

Historical information

Built c.1846, likely in conjunction with Dundarave House (HB05/08/005A), the farm house, the courtyard of outbuildings and the detached outbuilding to the north-west are first shown on the second edition OS map (1855). Although forming part of the entry for Dundarave House, the ‘Farm House and Offices’ were separately itemised and given a rateable value of £10 in Griffith’s Valuation (c.1862)

Although the rateable value did not change until the First General Revaluations (1935), historic OS maps show that the buildings were altered during this time. By the early years of the 20th century, the farm house had been widened and a narrow linear extension added (or in close proximity) to the south, as is shown on the third edition OS map (1904). A small detached L-plan structure had also been erected to the east of the courtyard of outbuildings. There was little change by the fifth edition OS map (1921), except for an addition to the rear of the detached outbuilding to the north-west. Modern map evidence shows that the overall footprint has remained largely unchanged except for a large modern structure which has been constructed to the south of the farm house. The Estate was vacant and for sale during the early 21st century, however it has been purchased and undergone refurbishment works in recent years.

In 1808 Francis MacNaghten purchased the Bushmills estate, ‘for a small price’ from his brothers-in-law, the Dunkins and in c.1830 he proceeded to have a new house constructed on site, which incorporated all (or parts of) an earlier house. This ‘new mansion house’ as described in the Townland Valuations (1835) comprised a two-storey castellated pile with an apparent three-stage tower to the rear, extensive outbuildings to the west, which were adorned with circular turrets, and a pair of walled or formalised gardens to the south (illustration c.1837 in Girvan).

Upon the death of Francis in 1843, the estate subsequently passed to his son Edmund MacNaghten. Through his father’s connections, Edmund had been appointed the illustrious position of Registrar of the Supreme Court, first in Madras and then in Calcutta, when he was in his early twenties. Earning such a high sum meant that in 1825 at the age of 24, Edmund was able to retire and return to Ireland. Following his father’s death and his inheritance of the Bushmills estate, MacNaghten proceeded to have the previous house demolished and replaced with the present mansion house, which was thought to have been built 1846-49, to the designs of Sir Charles Lanyon.

References

Primary Sources
1. PRONI OS/6/1/3/1 First Edition OS map (1832)
2. PRONI OS/6/1/3/2 Second Edition OS map (1855)
3. PRONI OS/6/1/3/3 Third Edition OS map (1904)
4. PRONI OS/6/1/3/5 Fifth Edition OS map (1921)
5. PRONI VAL/2/B/1/25A Griffiths Valuation (1862)
6. PRONI VAL/12/D/1/2D Annual Revision Maps (1907-35)
7. PRONI VAL/12/B/4/6A-C Annual Revisions (1895-1929)
8. HB File (HB05/08/005C)

Secondary Sources
1. Girvan, WD ‘Historic Buildings Groups of Buildings Areas of Architectural importance in North Antrim including the Towns of Portrush, Ballymoney and Bushmills’ UAHS, 1971
2. MacNaughton, James ‘A History of the Clan Macnachtan’ Clan Macnachtan Association Worldwide, 2013
3. Brett, C.E.B. O’Connell, Michael ‘The Buildings of County Antrim’ UAHS, 1996

Online Sources
1. DIA (www.dia.ie/)
2. http://www.clanmacnaughton.net/docs_articles/Dundarave%20Estate%20Sold_CMAW.pdf

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
H-. Alterations detracting from building
I. Quality and survival of Interior
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

R. Age
S. Authenticity
T. Historic Importance
U. Historic Associations
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

The farm yard at Dundarave Estate is a substantial quadrangular courtyard complex located at the east of the estate group, some distance from the main Italianate mansion. Detailing suggests that it is contemporary with the coach yard (HB05/08/005B), which was designed by Charles Lanyon, and shares some features with it, including multi-pane timber windows and half-louvred openings. Although it has less architectural ambition than the coach yard (located next to the main house), the farmyard nonetheless exhibits a strong element of formalised design, characterised by symmetry and balanced proportions. Most of the complex is single storey, fulfilling a variety of functions associated with animal husbandry and the running of a substantial landholding. Constructed of local basalt rubble, with finely crafted stone dressings, it is a good example of traditional construction; the stable block (which sits apart from the main yard) is particularly fine, with stalls separated by graceful stone columns. Although in poor condition, the farm yard has survived relatively intact, with a high proportion of original fabric. It makes a strong contribution to the architectural quality of the estate group, and provides historic context relating to the economic functioning of the estate.

General comments

Second Survey scoping ref N05/08/005

District and ward are current at time of writing, but may not correspond to former boundaries.