House

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Small, one and a half-storey vernacular house of probable pre 1830s construction, possibly raised a storey in the early 1900s, now derelict. The house is located on the south side of Novally Road, roughly half a mile southwest of Ballycastle.

The front elevation is symmetrical with a doorway to the centre and a square window either side, all now boarded up. Internal observation shows that the windows have modern timber frames. To the E gable there is a small window to right on the upper level, with a modern timber frame. There is a similar window to left on the upper level of the W gable.

Roughly to the centre of the rear elevation there is a single-storey lean-to with doorway to the E face.

Most of the facade is finished in roughcast, although some of this has come away to the front and rear, with much of the latter now covered in plant growth. The lean-to is finished in dry dash to the E face at least, with the other faces now covered in plant growth.

The gabled roof of the main section of the building is slated and there is a brick chimneystack to the E gable. There is undoubtedly another stack to the W gable, but due to the presence of thick plant growth, this could not be confirmed.

Historical information

A building matching the shape of the present is shown on this site on the OS map of 1832, but not recorded in the near contemporary valuation. In the valuation of 1859 the occupant is recorded as a Rev. William G. Boyd, which leads one to suspect that the property had some relationship with the near by Ramoan rectory at this point, however the building appears too modest for a clergyman. In 1876 a William Hayes is recorded as the resident, with a William Garner Boyd Hayes [?the same person] listed in 1897. The next occupant was an Ann McLaughlin in c.1907, with a Mary McLaughlin following in 1908 and a Roy Ferguson in 1920. Mr Ferguson appears to have remained there until the 1970s.

The building may have been built as single-storey, with the roof raised at some point. The interior detailing suggests that if this did happen, then the work may have been carried out in the early 1900s, however the valuations say nothing on the matter.

References- Primary sources
1 OS Memoirs, Parish of Ramoan, (1831-39), reprinted in ‘Ordnance Survey memoirs of Ireland…’ ed Angelique Day, Patrick McWilliams and Noirin Dobson (Belfast, QUB, 1994), p.92 etc
2 PRONI OS/6/1/8/1 OS map, Co Antrim, sheet 8 (1832)
3 PRONI VAL/1B/135 First valuation, Ramoan parish (1834)
4 PRONI OS/6/1/8/2 OS map, Co Antrim, sheet 8 (1856)
5 PRONI VAL/2B/1/28c Second valuation, Ramoan parish (1859)
6 PRONI VAL/12B/2/3a Annual valuation revision book, Ballycastle ED (1862-64)
7 PRONI VAL/12B/2/3b Annual valuation revision book, Ballycastle ED (1865-76)
8 PRONI VAL/12B/2/3c Annual valuation revision book, Ballycastle ED (1876-84)
9 PRONI VAL/12B/2/3d Annual valuation revision book, Ballycastle ED (1884-93)
10 PRONI VAL/12B/2/3e Annual valuation revision book, Ballycastle ED (1892/3-98)
11 PRONI VAL/12B/2/3f Annual valuation revision book, Ballycastle ED (1898-1907)
12 PRONI VAL/12B/2/3g Annual valuation revision book, Ballycastle ED (1908-21)
23 PRONI VAL/12B/2/5a Annual valuation revision book, Ballycastle UD North and South Wards (1921-27)
14 PRONI VAL/12B/2/5b Annual valuation revision book, Ballycastle UD North Ward (1927-30)
15 PRONI VAL/12B/2/5c Annual valuation revision book, Ballycastle UD South Ward (1927-30)
16 PRONI VAL/3B/1/5 First general revaluation of Northern Ireland, Ballycastle UD, 1935
17 PRONI VAL/3C/1/6 First general revaluation of Northern Ireland, 1936-57
18 PRONI VAL/4B/1/12 Second General Revaluation of Northern Ireland, Ballycastle UD (1956-72)

Secondary sources
1 Brett, C.E.B., ‘Historic Buildings…The Glens of Antrim’ (Belfast, 1971)
2 Information supplied by the owners (September 2004)

Other
references
1 EHS HB05/15/024 First Survey report (September 1972)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Small, one and a half-storey vernacular house of probable pre 1830s construction, possibly raised a storey in the early 1900s, now derelict.