Hybla

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A 5 bay wide 2½ storey semi-detached house with central door and attached gateway. The front entrance door, 3 panelled, upper panel glazed with margin glazing, plain shallow rectangular fanlight, door narrow with step. It has well executed Gibbsian surround with keystone with handsome moulded cornice over which is separated from the surround by a deepish shallow band which traverses the façade. Above the cornice and fitting between it and first floor cill a framed plaque. On each side of door 2 no. vertical windows with 12 no. panes, the top three of which are combined to form top hinged opening lights, very neatly done and all astragals slim. Stooled sandstone cills painted.

At first floor 5 no. windows over openings below with the S end one treated as ground floor, the other 4 are double hung sliding sash 12 pane windows with exposed sash boxes, stooled sandstone cills. Wall is smooth rendered, lined, unpainted. The Gibbian door surround, the plain band stringcourse, and the flat arches to 1st floor windows are painted. Keystones over 1st floor windows unpainted.

½ round metal gutter over plain corbel course, drains to trunkhead with circular metal downpipe. Roof natural slates, barge stones to N end which is gabled with chimney stack. At S end roof abuts the higher roof of the next house with central chimney stack. The roof has 2 no. 3 pane cast iron rooflights. Roof has steep pitch.

The house is set back about 6 metres from footwalk with front garden divided by straight garden path. To the N end of the house a segmental arched gateway in a short length of wall which is in line with the front of house. Stonework surround rusticated and keystone. The adjacent house to the S is 3½ storeys high but has similar gateway. Unfortunately this house has had its windows altered.(Its gateway has been removed since the time of this survey and the pillars now only remain). A pair of gate pillars further to the south also appear to be contempory with the building. These are cylindrical and topped with a steep conical cap resting on a sawtooth pattern of bricks. The flank a public footpath.

To the rear of each house, are stone built outhouses, back returns. Each outhouse immediately behind the front wall is converted to flat/holiday accommodation and in the case of No. 36 has an entrance constructed in boundary wall to Quay Road with large canopy which is of inappropriate character.

The house is of pleasing proportions with refined detailing.

The rear of the listed house has a two storey flat roofed return added to the north side of the main two storey pitched return (which is itself an extension from the Victorian period). These returns effectively obscure the rear of the original facde of the building. The flat roofed return has two one over one sashes at first floor (bathroom) and a sheeted door at ground level. The victorian return has two georgian paned sashes at first floor level one eight over eight the other four over eight. At ground level the kitchen window has been enlarged and is a casement with a sheeted door nearby. It does not connect at roof level with the main house because of a tall chimney stack rising from the raer wall. Both returns are finished in sand /cement lined as ashlar. The main return connects to an earlier stables/garage block this sits forward of the return and is built of rubble stone with decayed lime harling render. Tow large timber garage doors at ground level and an eight over eight sash at first floor and a smaller one over one sash. The rear of this building facing into number 34 has a round headed window at low level. It gable is blank but a thin brick chimney rises from the ridge.

The building to to the north of the entrance arch with shopfront to road described above extends back into the site as a single storey naturally slated building of modern construction and appearance though with a natural slate roof. It connects to an earlier two story barn of rubble construction and the remains of lime render. Natural slate roof rendered brick steps to first floor door on east gable. No openings at first floor along southern side. Two small doors. Stone construction coursed, metal gutters, natural slate roof.

Historical information

The house is probably of mid 18th cent. and the house at S end likewise. It is indicated on the O.S. map of 1832 and is also noted on a map prepared by C Dallat suggesting the layout of Ballycastle c 1760. C Brett in the UAHS publication Glens of Antrim hints that it may be earlier, possibly the earliest house in the town. It is interesting to note that it sets the building line for all the houses between it and the Marine Hotel. The occupier of No 34 reported that the buildings were indeed in single ownership when constructed. Brick was burnt on site for the building in the works located to the south of its boundary. The southern building had the formal yard to the rear while the listed building had the farmyard. No 34 is reported to have had quite grand internal rooms before renovation. It is clear from differing heights that after subdivision in the mid nineteeth century number 34 was raised while the new returns were added as part of the alterations to change it into two ownerships.

References

Primary Sources
1. O.S. Map 1832 Antrim sh. 9.
2. O.S. Map 1832 Rev. 1856 Antrim sh. 9
3. O.S. Map 1904 Ballycastle
4. Notes, 1st Survey, EHS Hill Street, Belfast

Secondary Sources
1. UAHS, The Glens of Antrim p. 51
2. Ballycastle Conservation Area Booklet, DOE NI.
3. Owner of Number 34 (2003)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A well proportioned mid 18th century house in Georgian style with good detailing and a well executed Gibbsian surround to entrance door. Pleasingly sited with front garden to Quay Road, complementary cut stone side archway and rear stone outbuildings.