Drumalla House,

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A two-storey three-bay house with rendered walls and hipped slated roof, with a modern flat-roofed two-storey extension to one side at the rear. Main entrance faces east.

Entrance elevation: roof of Bangor blue slates in regular courses; cast iron gutter. Wall rendered with roughcast, but some repair patches done in smooth render; lower wing walls extend to each side of the main front, surmounted by stone knobs at the extremities. Elevation contains one window to each side of a central projecting flat-roofed porch.
Windows are rectangular timber sliding sash, 6 over 1 without horns, set in plain reveals with projecting cills, except for the central window on the first floor which contains casements.
The rectangular porch has panelled corner piers rising to an entablature and moulded cornice; PVC downpipe; front contains a five-light window, fixed panes with a top-hung vent; each side contains a doorway comprising a glazed and panelled rectangular timber door surmounted by a two-light fanlight. Doors approached by a flight of concrete paved steps flanked by modern steel railings. Attached to the front façade in the corner to the right of the porch is a modern iron fire-escape ladder leading from the roof of the porch.

South elevation: of similar character to the entrance front, but windows are sashed 6 over 6 and are set in raised rectangular surrounds. One chimney, to left-hand end, smooth cement rendered, with original pots.
Canted bay to left-hand side of ground floor, looks original, contains sashed windows similar to others; later modern canted bay to right-hand side, with flat roof, timber fascia, large rectangular fixed light windows; PVC gutters and downpipes. Modern rectangular glazed flush doors to left-hand end of ground floor.

Rear elevation: original rear elevation of house largely obscured by later additions of poor quality which completely enclose a small rear yard; yard contains a modern fire escape stairway and a small flat-roofed block.

North elevation: roofing and walling similar to previous elevations; main front block contains windows sashed 6 over 6, but long rear return contains modern metal fixed lights with top-hung vents; a later flat-roofed block projects to the right-hand end.

SETTING: The building stands within the built-up area of the town, facing the main road but set well back from it within its own grounds.
Front boundary formed by modern steel railings on a low cement rendered plinth wall. One original corner boundary pier retained, rendered, with moulded cap; main entrance gates are modern steel railings on square steel posts. Tarmac driveway leads to tarmac parking area in front of house; driveway bordered by concrete kerbstones. Grassy plot to front garden with some mature trees. House and garden overlooks the sea to the front.
Service yard to right of house; small enclosed garden to left of house with modern two-storey flat-roofed addition to rear; small garden to left is approached by a small looped ironwork pedestrian gate with octagonal cast iron posts.

Historical information

Built in 1854 by Lady Londonderry as a residence for her agent Richard Wilson; originally known as 'Stoney Hill House', its name was changed to Drumalla sometime after 1866.

References – Primary Sources
1. OS Map 1857, Co Antrim 25.
Secondary Sources
1. UAHS, Glens of Antrim (Belfast, 1971), p 19 (but gives an erroneous date).
2. P. Magill, Garron Tower (Belfast, 1990), p 57.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

This is a mid-19th century building which has lost many of its original features, both exterior and interior, with the result that its original character has been spoiled and its architectural value drastically reduced.