Former Bull's House

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Gabled one and a half storey ‘picturesque" byre of c.1870 with central gabled half dormer, decorative bargeboards and timber finials. The byre is sited at the northern end of the Glenarm Castle demesne just S of Straidkilly Road.

The front (E) elevation is symmetrical. To the centre of the elevation is a plain sheeted timber door with square drip moulding and label stops over. To the left are two evenly spaced paired sash windows (all 4/4). The window openings are surmounted by a drip moulding, as before. To the right are two similar windows. To the centre of the eaves is a gabled half dormer with a sheeted timber ‘loft’ door. The verge overhangs and has a decorative barge board. The opening has a drip moulding, as before. To the apex is a timber finial.

To the right side of the S elevation is a plain sheeted timber door. To the right is a small (c.300x150mm) ventilation openin To the upper part of the gable there are two evenly spaced similar openings. The gable has slightly overhanging decorative bargeboards and a timber finial.

The N elevation is blank except for ventilation openings, as the S elevation – two to the upper portion of the gable and one to the right side of the ground floor. The gable has slightly overhanging decorative bargeboards and a timber finial.

The rear elevation has four unevenly spaced 4 pane windows.

Walls are finished with ‘salt & pepper’ dry dash render and have moulded and chamfered in-out quoins and a smooth render base. The gabled roof is slated. Cast iron rw goods.

Historical information

This building is not shown on the OS map of 1858, but does appear in a photograph which has been dated to c.1872. Judging from its appearance it may have been built c.1870. Despite its domestic looks the buildings is believed to have originally served as a byre. It is now used as a veterinary surgery.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI OS/6/1/29/2 OS map, Co Antrim sh 29, 1858
2 Photograph of ‘Bull’s House’ c.1872, in possession of Ms Sandy Watson, Glenarm
3 PRONI OS/6/1/29/3 OS map, Co Antrim sh 29, 1903

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Gabled one and a half storey ‘picturesque" byre of c.1870, with central gabled half dormer, decorative bargeboards and timber finials. The building is now used as a veterinary surgery. It deserves statutory protection.

General comments

Previously recorded as HB06/02/093.