Boat House at Tweeds Port

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A rectangular boat house of symmetrical layout with walls finished in crushed stone dry dash. At each corner of the building are tower-like clasping buttresses rising above the level of the walls, with corners dressed in blackstone quoins. Towers and intermediate wall areas are surmounted by crenellated parapets of blackstone. The entrance, which faces south-east, is through a centrally placed segmental-arched opening with alternating long and short rock-faced voussoirs and block surrounds. A door of modern corrugated steel of shutter type now replaces the previous sheeted double doors.

SETTING: The building stands in a rural area, on a slight promontory in an open area of coastline, close to the shore-line and facing onto a quay which projects into the water. There is a grassy area to the north, a car-park to the south and a hard pathway across the front. The
setting has been degraded by the construction of the adjacent car park.

Historical information

The year of construction is not known but it may be dated to c. 1898 when Cairndhu (Ref. no. HB06/03/008), the house with which it appears to be associated, was built for John Stewart Clark. It first appears on the OS map of 1903.

References - Primary

1. OS Map 1903, Co Antrim 35.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

An example of a late 19th century boat house, which adds to the perception and understanding of local estate life at the turn of the century. Unfortunately its quality has been degraded by inappropriate alterations.