37 Cockhill Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

An asymmetrical direct-entry attached multi-bay single-storey vernacular dwelling of lime-washed rubblestone construction, built c.1830 and located within a linear group of similar buildings on the south side of Cockhill Road near Ballymena. Rectangular on plan with single-storey gable-fronted return abutting to rear. Building and surrounding group to South east are currently vacant. Adjacent listed thatch (no 39 - HB 07/10/017) does not appear to be permanently occupied, but is still in use.

Steeply pitched corrugated-iron roof (possibly over thatch) with half-round replacement metal rainwater goods on wall-driven brackets to eaves. 20th century machine-made red brick chimney to south with a single clay pot remaining. Walling is random rubblestone construction, with lime pointing to joints and patches of lime wash over lime render, particularly to the eastern elevation. Square-headed window openings with timber lintels, largely shallow rendered reveals and generally painted stone sills. Windows are largely 1/1 timber sliding sashes with exposed sash boxes, chamfered horns and replacement glass (except where otherwise stated). Single square-headed door opening to east elevation, having a timber lintel, plain rendered reveals and a painted timber-sheeted door within a timber frame.

Principal elevation faces east, comprising three window openings and a door opening to right-of-centre. 2/2 timber sash window to right-side, having stop-and-start red brick architraves.

North elevation abutted by adjoining building (no. 37b - HB 07/10/035).

Rear elevation faces west and comprises two window openings; that to left is blocked by corrugated sheeting, cementatious rendered reveals to remaining windows; that to right has cement-rendered reveals with a metal casement window set in a timber frame. Rear walls constructed over projecting exposed base course of bedrock or fieldstones. Corrugated-iron roof to gable-fronted return to left-of-centre, abutted to main building by a narrow link-block of rubblestone construction. Single window opening to gable elevation with metal-casement window set in timber frame, right-pane is top-hinged.

Single-bay proportion abutting to south forms part of the adjoining No.39 (HB07/10/017).

Setting

Forming part of a linear row of similarly detailed vernacular dwellings, which are orientated perpendicular to the Cockhill Road, with the northern gable of the former No.35 directly lining the southern side of the road. Sited within a rural farmland
setting, the immediate surroundings are wooded and overgrown. A small, shared yard to the east is overgrown and is bound by a low rubblestone wall curving from north to south. The building forms part of a wider complex of vernacular farm structures located within a separate yard to the south and east, which are thought to be associated with the adjoining thatched dwelling at No.39 (HB07/10/017). This yard of outbuildings, in conjunction with No.39, are separately accessed from Cockhill Road, via a sweeping path to the north-east. A lime-rendered concrete or brick wall abuts to the south-end of the eastern elevation, separating No.37 from the adjacent yard and outbuildings of No.39.

Materials
Roof – Corrugated-iron (possible thatch below)
RWG – Replacement metal
Walls – Lime-wash render over uncoursed rubblestone
Windows – Timber sliding sashes & metal casements

Historical information

This linear group of buildings is first shown on the first edition OS map (1833), having two small outbuildings in close proximity to the north-west. The buildings form part of a larger group with several others located to the north-east.

The linear group, comprising the present Nos.39, 37, 37B and the former No.35, remained largely unchanged on the second edition map (1853), except for the north-western outbuildings. The northernmost of these had been removed by this time, whilst the other outbuilding was either connected to the western elevation of No.37, or was entirely replaced by the present return. This return became used as a scullery and was then converted into a kitchen around the mid 20th century.

The property is recorded in Griffith’s Valuation (c.1859), however the handwritten numbering on the accompanying map is very difficult to discern. Although it remains unclear, the group of small dwellings, comprising Nos.37, 37B and the former No.35, appear to have been those leased by a Robert Dill to a Hugh Campbell and a Thomas Tweedy, which were valued at £1 and £0 15s respectively, and that leased by a John Hanna to a Samuel McDonnell, which was valued at £0 10s.

The different owners of the various buildings within the wider cluster indicate that this settlement may have originally developed as a clachan. However the buildings may have also been the lodgings of farm workers, in particular the adjoining No.37B (HB07/10/035) to the north, which contains a single space characteristic of workers’ lodgings.

Subsequent OS maps show that the footprint of the building has remained unchanged since the mid 19th century. By the fourth edition OS map (1936) the complex of buildings is captioned ‘Hannastown’, reflecting the fact that the Hanna family had continuously occupied a number of the buildings since at least the mid 19th century.

The subsequent Annual Revision maps and records are also very unclear, however the rateable value of the buildings appears to have remained largely unchanged until at least the First General Revaluations (c.1930).

No.37 remained in use as a dwelling until the late 20th century, however the building has been vacated in recent decades.

References

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/1/37/1 First edition OS map (1833)
2. PRONI OS/6/1/37/2 Second edition OS map (1853)
3. PRONI OS/6/1/37/3 Third edition OS map (1906-07)
4. PRONI OS/6/1/37/4 Fourth edition OS map (1936)
5. PRONI VAL/12/D/1/37A-N Annual Revision Maps (1860-1935)
6. PRONI VAL/2/B/1/2A Griffith’s Valuation Records (1859)
7. PRONI VAL/12/B/3/18/A-E Annual Revision Records (1863-1930)

Secondary Sources
1. HB File (HB07/LQ063)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
H-. Alterations detracting from building
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest
Z. Rarity
W. Northern Ireland/International Interest
R. Age
S. Authenticity

Evaluation

A nearly intact example of an early to mid 19th century former vernacular dwelling, which is characterised by a modified direct-entry plan, typically modest proportions and the use of locally sourced building materials. Despite the poor condition and some 20th century alterations to the fabric and layout, the historic character and detailing are generally retained. Threatened by demolition, modernisation or dereliction, vernacular dwellings such as this are an increasingly rare building type. The adjoining buildings and the associated outbuildings make an important contextual contribution, and the group constitutes a significant example of a large traditional farmstead. Clachans such as this were once a common feature within the rural landscape of Ulster but have become increasingly scarce over recent decades. In particular, the abutting thatched structure to the north (no 37b - HB 07/10/035) is a rare surviving example, retaining a lobby-entry plan form and an early example of a raised cruck-framed thatch roof.

General comments

also HB07/LQ063

This record has been re-numbered and was previously HB07/10/034.