Walled garden

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A walled garden of irregular layout comprising a number of high walls of field stone and rubble surrounding a five acre garden on sloping ground which contains a derelict former gardener's house as well as a ruined conservatory and various intermediate walls.

It stands in a very rural area, within the demesne of Lissan House.

The main entrance is in a central position in the east wall, and comprises a Tudor arched opening in a brick surround containing an ironwork gate with spear-head railings. There is also a wider vehicular gateway in the north wall containing an ironwork gate of simple design. An intermediate wall running north to south in the northern part of the overall enclosure, also contains two semi-circular arched openings.

The northern part of the eastern wall is formed by the rear wall of the "large barne" which was mentioned in the survey of 1703. Parts of the walls in various places such as along the western boundary, have been damaged by fallen trees.

Within the walled garden the ground is grassed and there are a number of mature trees. There is also the remains of an extensive greenhouse or conservatory in the northern part which had rear walls of brick and rubble stonework, lean-to timber framed glazing to the front, round-arched timber panelled doors, and semi-circular brick-arched sheds to the rear; and a derelict gardener's house freestanding near the south-east corner.

THE GARDENER'S HOUSE

A two-storey building of rubble-stone walls incorporating some field stones, with a red brick chimney and some red brick dressings to openings. Part of the west gable is rendered. Roofing is of Bangor blue slates in regular courses with overhanging eaves and timber bargeboards.

The building is of two portions, a two-storey cottage to the west end and a completely derelict and open roofed enclosure to the east end. The enclosure to the east contains a semi-circular arched brick-dressed opening. The cottage to the west is of two bays, with a semi-circular arched entrance to the left of a rectangular window. The entrance comprises a rectangular timber sheeted door set in a glazed screen of an arched fanlight and a pair of arched two-pane sidelights with built-up brick walls below them, all set within a semi-circular arch. The window to the right is missing its glazing bars.
In the front pitch of the roof above is a gabled dormer containing a later plate glass window.

The west gable contains one window to the ground floor, now unglazed, and two windows to the first floor, one to each side of a red brick chimney, of sashed form, 1 over 1, but derelict.

The south or rear elevation contains one window now missing its glazing, and has a later lean-to single-storey extension in poor condition.

The east end of the building on the rear elevation has suffered disruption to most elements and the original form and layout is uncertain.

SETTING

The walled garden is approached by a path from the east which connects with paths to the front of Lissan House and its yard; and also by a track from the north off the rear driveway to Lissan House which passes through the upper yard. Surrounding the walls are fields.

Historical information

The precise date of building of the walled garden is not known but both it and the gardener's cottage appear on the OS map of 1833. It is possible that at least part of these walls date from the late 17th century, as a survey of the estate in 1703 referred to "two handsome courts at the entrance to Sir Robert's house which are enclosed with good stone walls" and these walls may be those standing at the northern end of the present walled garden. It is possible that the entire enclosure dates from that time, although it could be later.

The conservatory probably dates from the early to mid-19th century.

The gardener's house is of uncertain date. It may have its origins in a structure of the 18th century or even earlier, but presumably achieved its present overall form in the late 19th century judging by its brickwork chimney, its staircase, and its doorscreen arrangement.

References - Primary Sources
1. OS Map of 1833.
2. OS Map of 1854.
3. OS Map of 1906.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

D. Plan Form
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest
V. Authorship

Evaluation

This is a walled garden with enclosing and intermediate walls which date in part, and possibly in their entirety, from the late 17th century. It includes within its grounds a gardener's cottage which, while possibly having its origins in the late 17th century, has the architectural character and appearance of the late 19th century. Each element in its own right is of some significance but their value is enhanced due to their forming part of an overall group of structures representing the development of an important and long-standing country house estate.