Former Smithy (Aghyaran Post Office),

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Attached single-cell single-storey former blacksmiths shop, built c.1860, located to the east side of Aghyaran Road. Rectangular-on-plan with attached three-bay two-storey house to south; single-storey lean-to extension to south-east.

Roof is corrugated metal. Walls are lime-rendered rubble stone (render partially fallen away). Windows are replacement square-headed metal casements.

Principal elevation faces west; at left, horseshoe elliptical entrance opening containing original double-leaf vertically-sheeted timber doors in granite surround; single window to right.

North gable is blank; exposed rubble walling.

East elevation contains square-headed entrance opening at centre (door missing) flanked at each side by single window; abutted on left by lean-to extension.

South elevation abutted by house.

House and post office to south has been extensively modernised; roof is replacement natural slate; red brick chimneys. Walls are roughcast render over smooth plinth. Windows are replacement uPVC casements. House abutted at west by single-storey gabled porch; abutted at east by large single-storey gabled extension.

Set within private grounds bounded to all sides by recent smooth rendered walling with concrete saddleback coping; access through pair of square rendered piers.

Roof Corrugated metal
Walling Lime-rendered rubble stone
Windows Replacement square-headed metal casements
RWG Replacement aluminium half-round gutters and round downpipes; few cast-iron rainwater goods remain

Historical information

The building is first shown on the third edition OS map of 1905 captioned ‘Smithy’. The adjoining building is captioned ‘Aghyaran Post Office’.

The first reference to the building is in the Revisions fieldbook of 1864-78 which lists the property as a ‘house, offices, forge and land’, occupied by Thomas Irvine and leased from the Earl of Caledon. The buildings valuation is £1.10s, revised to £3.10s in 1897. The increase in value most likely relates to the building or extending of the adjoining dwelling. No other changes are recorded in the revisions besides a change of occupancy to Elizabeth Irvine in 1919.

There appears to have been some confusion in the First Survey with another building nearby. The first survey claims that the smithy is probably ‘c.1780 contemporary with other similar buildings erected on other parts of the Caledon estate’, and that the ‘Owner reports that this was part of the Caledon estate. He bought out his ground rent approx 10 years ago. This building also served as the estate office’. It would appear that this is a reference to a property further west along the road, which is recorded in Valuation Revisions (and can also be found in Griffith’s Valuation) as a ‘Stewards house, offices and land’, valued originally at £24, occupied by Sir Robert Ferguson, and leased from the Guardians of the Earl of Caledon (who was then a minor).

The building is distinctly vernacular in form, with simple construction and detailing; the adjoining house follows the same linear arrangement and fenestration pattern indicating they were probably built as a group, although the house has evidently been extended and modernised since, almost beyond recognition.

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/6/23/1 -First Edition OS Map (1833)
2. PRONI OS/6/6/23/2 -Second Edition OS Map (1853)
3. PRONI OS/6/6/23/3 -Third Edition OS Map (1905)
4. PRONI VAL/12/B/35/10 -Valuation Revisions (1859-1929)
5. PRONI VAL/12/D/6/23E -Valuation Revisions Map (1909-1935)

Secondary Sources

1. First Survey Information, 1987.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance
X. Local Interest
Z. Rarity

Evaluation

04