Mourneview,

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Detached three-bay two-storey vernacular farmhouse built c.1840, located to the east side of Liskey Road, Strabane. Rectangular-on-plan facing west with two-storey return (original farm dwelling) built c.1800 to rear.

Roofs are pitched natural slate; blue/black clay ridge tiles; smooth rendered corbelled gable chimneystacks with decorative octagonal clay pots; brick corbelled eaves course supporting cast-iron rain water goods. Walls are roughcast rendered; windows are 8/8 timber sliding sashes at ground floor; 4/8 at first floor (diminished in height); with projecting masonry cills unless otherwise stated.

Principal (west) elevation contains central replacement timber panelled entrance door with original spider-web fanlight; window at each side; three windows at first floor.

Left (north) gable is blank.

Rear (east) elevation is abutted at left by two-storey original Georgian farmhouse with pitched roof, exposed section at right contains 8/8 timber sliding sash at ground floor and 6/6 timber sliding sash at first floor and stair landing level.

Right (south) gable is ruled-and-lined rendered and contains 6/6 timber sliding sash window at each floor at right, (first floor window diminished.)

Three-bay two-storey return built c.1800 as the original farm dwelling has natural slate roof, blue/black clay ridge tiles; u-profile cast-iron rain water goods; walls are lime rendered random rubble; windows are a mixture of painted timber sliding sashes with differing glazing combinations. Principal elevation faces north and contains gabled entrance porch off-centre at right; 6/6 timber sliding sash at each side; 2/4 timber sliding sash to left bay; window to each bay at first floor. East gable contains timber sheeted door at right and single window at left at first floor. South elevation is abutted at left by single-storey flat-roof extension of little interest; exposed section at right contains 2/4 timber sliding sash window; two windows at first floor.

Gabled entrance porch is detailed as main block; walls are lime rendered red brick; gable contains replacement timber panelled entrance door; each cheek is blank.

Set within a rural farmyard to the east of Liskey Road, Strabane; the house is preserved within its original
setting with traditional farmyard to east, containing several early-nineteenth century traditionally constructed outbuildings.

Roof Natural slate
Walling Roughcast render
Windows 8/8 timber sliding sashes at ground floor; 4/8 at first floor (diminished in height); with masonry cills
RWG Cast-iron u-profile

Historical information

The return of the current building is shown as an independent dwelling on the 1832-3 OS Map. The main house first appears on the 1855 OS map. The 1905 OS map shows a further extension on the south elevation of the return which has now been replaced by a modern extension.

The Townland Valuation (1820-1840) records the property as a “dwelling and offices” valued at £6 3s 1d., occupied by Andrew Browne (later revised to Thomas Browne at an unknown date).

Griffiths Valuation of 1857 increases the value to £7 15s and notes that the house is now occupied by Thomas Browne and leased from the Marquis of Abercorn. Revisions increase the value to £9 15s. in 1876. The lessor is also revised at this stage to the Duke of Abercorn reflecting his elevation in 1868.

The rear block has an early nineteenth century vernacularn style and this is complemented by the more fromal main block which has wider windows suggesing a date of c. 1830; this is supported by the map evidence.

References:

Primary Sources:

1. PRONI OS/6/6/10/1 -First Edition OS Map (1832-33)
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 VAL/2/B/6/41-Griffith’s Valuation (1857)
5. PRONI VAL/1/B/638A-C -Townland Valuation (1820-1840)
6. PRONI VAL/12/B/42/10A-G -Valuation Revisions (1860-1929)
7. PRONI VAL/12/D/6/10C -Valuation Revisions Map (1879-1909)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
H+. Alterations enhancing the building
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A well proportioned and detailed early-nineteenth century farm dwelling, built c.1830, traditionally constructed with original vernacular farm dwelling attached at rear, built c.1800. The survival of these two distinct phases of construction add to the building's interest. Apart from a small flat roofed extension at the rear of the original house the external and internal detailing is largely intact making this a rural house of great interest. The setting is relatively well preserved with some nineteenth century stone built outbuildings and a cast iron hand pump outside the front door of the original part.