44 Castlewarren Road, Donemana, Strabane, Co Tyrone BT82 0PJ

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Detached two-bay single-storey vernacular dwelling, built c.1890, located to the north side of Castlewarren Road. Rectangular-on-plan with lower single-storey former byre to north; flat-roofed kitchen extension to west, c.1930.

Roof is pitched natural slate with blue/black clay ridge tiles over corbelled eaves course; concrete verges; red brick corbelled chimneys; byre has corrugated roof. Walls are roughcast. Windows are square-headed timber framed 2/2 sliding sash with painted masonry sills.

Principal elevation faces east and consist of single window to left bay; vertically-sheeted timber entrance door flanked at right by single window to right bay.

South gable is blank.

West elevation is abutted by extension containing three timber casement windows.

North gable is abutted by byre containing single window and large square-headed opening containing vertically-sheeted timber double-leaf doors to east elevation; single window to west elevation.

Set within private grounds bounded to road by hedging with access via driveway; access to rear through wrought-iron gate to north of byre. Single-storey former forge attached to extension at south-west; roof is corrugated metal; walls are whitened lime-rendered rubble; windows are timber casements.

Roof Natural slate
Walls Roughcast
Windows Timber-framed 2/2 sliding sash
Rainwater goods Cast-iron half-round gutters and round downpipes

Historical information

The building is first shown on the third edition Ordnance Survey map (1905) captioned ‘Smithy’. It appears, uncaptioned, on the fourth edition (1951).

It is not easily identifiable in Annual Revision records but appears to be a house that is entered into the record in 1890, occupied by James Browne and leased from James Bond. It is valued at 10s and not identified as a forge at this stage. It is first identified as a forge in 1933. David Brown becomes the occupier and the valuation is increased to £4 (undated changes). A plan is shown of the house which is said to comprise two rooms and a kitchen. The plan shows a ‘store’ to the north of the house, a scullery extension to the rear and a separate forge. The valuer comments, “Let from Mr Bond on condition that his work is done free of charge in the forge.” The house and scullery are of rubble masonry and corrugated iron. By 1945 David Brown has become the owner in fee and the valuer comments, “Mr Brown says he has not been using the forge for over two years as he is working in Derry…” The forge is labelled ‘old forge, now store’.

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/6/3/3 – Third Edition OS Map (1905)
2. PRONI OS/6/6/3/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map (1951)
3. PRONI VAL/12/B/42/6A-F – Annual Revision Records (1860-1924)
4. PRONI VAL/3/D/7/10DD/1 – Valuers’ RV Binder (1933-57)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A detached two-bay single-storey direct entry vernacular dwelling, built c.1890, located to the north side of Castlewarren Road. Externally, this picturesque building retains much of its original fabric and features. The retention of an intact vernacular interior and the former forge on the site both add to the historic interest of this building. Unfortunately the large extension to the rear detracts substantially from its architectural interest.