20 Knock Road, Douglas Bridge, Strabane, BT82 8QR

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Detached three-bay single-storey direct-entry formerly thatched vernacular dwelling, built c.1830, located to the south of Knock Road. Direct-entry rectangular plan with windbreak porch to north; bed outshot to south; lean-to shed to south.

Roof is pitched corrugated asbestos over origianl thatch; lime-rendered rubble chimney. Walls are lime-rendered over rubble construction. Windows are timber-framed 1/1 sliding sash with sandstone sills supported by timber lintels.

Principal elevation faces north; left bay contains single window; central bay contains single window at left flanked at right by windbreak porch with stone flat roof containing vertically-sheeted timber door. Right bay contains two windows.

East gable is blank; abutted by remains of rubble byre.

South elevation contains two windows to left bay and one to right bay; central bay is abutted at right by bed outshot; exposed section at left contains single window.

West gable is abutted by lean-to shed containing vertically-sheeted door to east and single window to west.

Set parallel to road at north with remains of rubble outbuilding to north-east; bounded to road by hedging; bounded to other sides by rubble walling.

Roof Corrugated asbestos
Walling Lime-rendered
Windows Timber framed 1/1 sliding sash
Rainwater goods N/A

Historical information

The house is present on the first edition Ordnance Survey map of 1832-3 together with a small outbuilding to the east. Both these buildings appear to have survived. A lime kiln is also shown.

The buildings are not listed in the Townland Valuation. In Griffith’s Valuation of 1859 a ‘house, offices and land’ is listed, occupied by Josias Irvine and leased from the Marquis of Abercorn. It is valued at £1.

The house remains in the Irvine family and in 1909 James Irvine becomes the owner in fee under land purchase legislation of the early twentieth century. After 1934 Josiah Irvine is the owner and the valuation is raised to £2 and 10s for outbuildings (undated changes). At this stage the house comprises a kitchen, two rooms and three small rooms. Dimensions are given for the house and outshot. The house is of rubble masonry and thatched at this date.

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/6/10/1 – First Edition OS Map (1832-3)
2. PRONI OS/6/6/10/2 – Second Edition OS Map (1855)
3. PRONI OS/6/6/10/3 – Third Edition OS Map (1905)
4. PRONI OS/6/6/10/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map (1951)
5. PRONI VAL/1/A/6/10 – Townland Valuation Map
6. PRONI VAL/1/B/637A – Townland Valuation (1828-40)
7. PRONI VAL/2/A/6/10 – Griffiths’ Valuation Map
8. PRONI Printed Griffith’s Valuation, Union of Strabane (1859)
9. PRONI VAL/12/A/6/1 – Valuers’ Note Book (1895-1904)
10. PRONI VAL/12/B/42/17A-F – Annual Revision Records (1860-1924)
11. PRONI VAL/3/D/7/10P/2 – First NI General Revaluation: Valuers’ RV Binder (1933-57).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A detached three-bay single-storey direct-entry vernacular dwelling, built c.1830, located to the south of Knock Road. This simple building has the remains of the original thatched roof structure beneath the replacement roof covering, which can be seen internally. Although interesting, the loss of original fabric, due to deterioration, has detracted from the character of the building and it does not meet the criteria for listing.