36 Ballyheather Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Detached three-bay two-storey house, built c.1875, located to the west side of Ballyheather Road. Rectangular-on-plan with single-storey return to west, abutted at north and south by single-storey lean-to extensions.

Roof is pitched natural slate with blue/black clay ridge tiles over corbelled eaves course; rendered chimneys with replacement clay pots; asbestos slated roof to return. Walls are painted ruled-and-lined render over projecting plinth to principal elevation; roughcast to other elevations. Windows are segmental headed timber-framed 2/2 sliding sashes in moulded architraves to principal elevation; square-headed 2/2 sliding sash elsewhere; all have painted masonry sills.

Principal elevation faces east and consists of opening to each bay at each floor centred around camber-headed entrance opening; square-headed four-panelled timber door surmounted by glazed fanlight flanked by fluted pilasters and surmounted by moulded cornice with keyblock detail; accessed via stone step.

South gable contains two windows at ground floor right; two windows at first floor; ruled-and-lined rendered above window head at first floor.

West elevation is abutted at right by return; exposed section at left contains single metal casement window at ground floor and single window at first floor. West gable of return is blank; south elevation contains replacement timber casement window at left; abutted at right by smooth rendered lean-to porch with corrugated roof containing metal casement window to south and vertically-sheeted timber door to west. North elevation is abutted by lean-to extension containing two metal casement windows.

North gable contains single window at ground floor left; two windows at first floor; ruled-and-lined rendered above window head at first floor.

Set within mature grounds; bounded to all sides by hedging; access from road at east through pair of wrought-iron gates supported on overgrown pillars; lime-rendered rubble walling with rubble coping to south-east with access to farmyard through wrought-iron gate supported on circular stone pier. Farmyard consists of two ranges of linear single-storey buildings enclosing central yard; roofs are pitched; partially slated and partially corrugated asbestos sheeted; walls are lime-rendered rubble; openings are timber framed with vertically-sheeted timber doors. One of the outbuildings is an increasingly rare example of a timber pole hayshed. A further small pedestrian wrought iron gate is attached to the side of the house.

Roof Natural slate
Walling Ruled-and-lined render; roughcast
Windows Timber-framed segmetnal-arched-headed 2/2 sliding sash to east; square-headed elsewhere
Rainwater goods Replacement uPVC gutters and round cast-iron downpipes

Historical information

A building is shown on the site on the first edition of the Ordnance Survey map (1833). This appears to correspond to the more southerly of the two large outbuildings that now remain. However, the main house does not appear on the plot until the third edition together with the more northerly of the two ranges of outbuildings. (1905). Another earlier structure, visible on the site on the second edition (1854), may have been incorporated into the return of the main house.

The Townland Valuation lists a ‘dwelling’ and ‘office’, occupied by John Dennistown and valued at £2.8s.3d. This may refer to the current outbuilding. In Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64) the southerly range of buildings is divided into three dwellings, valued at £2, 5s and 5s. Eliza Denison is the main tenant and leases her property from the Marquis of Abercorn. In 1860 there are only two tenants and the properties are valued at £1.10s and 10s. In 1876 it is noted that a house has been built on the plot, 13x8x2a with a return 5x5½x1½a and a further return 5x3x1a. It seems to be unfinished at this stage as the valuer inserts a reminder to ‘value in 1877’. Robert Roulston Junior is the occupier. The house is valued at £10 in 1883 and reduced to £6 in 1885. William Bailey becomes the owner in fee in 1889. In 1924 the cottages to the south of the property are deleted from the record, probably because they have now become outbuildings to the main house.

In 1933 John Bailey is the owner and the house is raised in value to £11 and £2 for outbuildings (undated change). It comprises a kitchen and seven rooms. Dimensions are given for the house and the return. At this time there is also a porch made of wood and corrugated iron.

References:

Primary Sources
1. PRONI OS/6/6/2/1 – First Edition OS Map (1833)
2. PRONI OS/6/6/2/2 – Second Edition OS Map (1854)
3. PRONI OS/6/6/2/3 – Third Edition OS Map (1905)
4. PRONI OS/6/6/2/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map (1936)
5. PRONI VAL/1/A/6/2 – Townland Valuation Map
6. PRONI VAL/1/B/640 – Townland Valuation (1828-40)
7. PRONI VAL/2/A/6/2 – Griffiths’ Valuation Map
8. PRONI VAL/2/B/6/43A – Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64)
9. PRONI VAL/12/B/42/5A-G – Annual Revision Records (1860-1924)
10. PRONI VAL/3/D/7/10V/1 – Valuers’ RV Binder (1933-57)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A detached three-bay two-storey formally arranged house, built c.1875, located to the west side of Ballyheather Road. The house is plainly detailed externally, and incorporates part of an earlier vernacular dwelling to the rear and is a good example of a mid to late Victorian farmhouse with earlier outbuildings, including an increasingly rare exmaple of a timber pole hayshed, forming an interesting group. Internally, the plan layout remains largely intact and it is interesting to see the contrast of detailing between the vernacular return and more typically Victorian front section. The site is enhanced by a range of outbuildings to the south which remain largely unchanged and good quality wrought iron gates. The setting to the front is a spacious front garden enclosed by mature trees.