Stables at Cairndhu

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A two-storey building of asymmetrical layout, built of regular coursed blackstone rubble with ashlar sandstone quoins and dressings, all arranged around an enclosed courtyard.

Main entrance faces east. Entrance front comprises an L-shaped block with a centrally placed segmental-arched coachway with an ocular opening over it contained within a small gable, flanked each side by rectangular windows of various sizes. Windows originally vertically hung, timber sliding sash, 2 over 2, with horns, in square heads, but some now boarded up. Canted oriel window to first floor with casements; breaks eaves line with lead hipped roof. Main entrance door ledged timber but partially boarded up. Roof, hipped and slated, Bangor blue in regular courses; terracotta ridge tiles. Sandstone chimney to each block; moulded cornice. Guttering and downpipes include PVC sections.

Projecting forward at the right-hand side is a wing containing two coach entrances to ground floor, with original ledged timber doors, with a rectangular window above each one, 1 over 1 replacements for original 2 over 2 sashes. End wall of front wing similar walling; ground floor window now boarded up, and rectangular doorway.

South elevation of entrance block: comprises two-storey end wall with canted bay window to ground floor, containing casements, lead covered hipped roof, and small rectangular window to first floor, later insertion lacking sandstone dressings. Extending to left, single-storey range enclosing courtyard: walling as previous, with painted wooden fascia above a band of smooth cement render; five small rectangular window openings dressed with chamfered red sandstone and containing original Victorian metal grilles but one now blocked up by cement; one larger rectangular window opening to the right, with wooden louvres, rounded red brick cill, and cement surrounds.

North elevation of building comprises two blocks with roof line stepping up slight slope. Slated roofs as previous, hipped at each end, with rendered chimney to the gable at the break. Walling as previous except red brick used for some window dressings and an entirely brick-built gabled outshot carried on semi-circular brick arches. Later cement render, pebble dashed, to upper portion of western range. Rectangular projection near eastern end, of similar walling to main block, with lean-to slated roof with rooflight.

West elevation of building largely hidden from view in bushes and trees; comprises single storey range to rear elevation, now in derelict condition, missing its front wall and roof, forms boundary wall of courtyard.

SETTING: The building stands in a rural area, in the grounds of a large country house, Cairndhu (HB06/03/008) which comprise lawns and mature trees. It is approached by a tarmac driveway winding round from the main house which stands to the east, downhill from it, but well within view of it. Immediately to the east of the stables is a single-storey red brick building, known as the petrol house, with gabled roof of Bangor blue slates in regular courses, timber barge boards with tapered finials, and sandstone oculus to gablet over doorway; of no special interest.

Historical information

Built as coach-houses and ancillary accommodation for John Stewart Clark in association with his residence Cairndhu (Ref. no. HB06/03/008) and therefore dateable to the same year, 1898, and attributable to the same architect, Samuel P. Close.

References - Primary

1. OS Map 1903, Co Antrim 35.

Secondary

1. M. Bence-Jones, Burke’s Guide to Country Houses, Volume 1: Ireland (London, 1978), p 54.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
D. Plan Form
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

V. Authorship
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

This is a soundly-built example of late Victorian outbuildings attributable to an important local architect, and standing as a significant element in the Cairndhu estate.