The Rock

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Detached symmetrical two-bay two-storey house, built c.1880, located to the north side of Realtons Road, Trillick. Rectangular-on-plan facing south with central single-storey entrance porch to north and south; abutted at east by series of single-storey random rubble outbuildings (remaining early nineteenth century house at east adjoined to main house by random rubble extension).

Roof is pitched natural slate, blue/black clay ridge tiles; two red brick corbelled chimneystacks; timber bargeboards supported on corbelled brackets; original half-round cast-iron rainwater goods. Walls are ruled-and-lined rendered; windows are 1/1 timber sliding sashes with projecting stone cills.

Principal elevation faces south; abutted at centre by single-storey entrance porch with pitched roof, flanked by window to each side at each floor. Entrance porch south gable contains vertically sheeted timber door with transom light over; accessed by three masonry steps; left and right cheeks are blank.

Left (west) gable contains single window at left at first floor.

Rear (north) elevation is abutted off-centre at left by single-storey porch with flat roof; exposed section at left contains two windows; single window at right; two windows at first floor.

Right (east) is abutted by series of single-storey random rubble outbuildings with pitched metal sheeted roofs; exposed section is blank.

Setting

The house is accessed by lane from the south; with metal sheeted outbuildings to east an east of lane. Attached outbuildings at
east are traditionally constructed with random rubble walling and bed outshot at south; metal sheeted roofs; stone verges and rubble chimney stacks. Three-bay outbuilding at east may have been the original dwelling on the site dating from the early nineteenth century, now adjoined to the main house by random rubble extension. Further two-storey random rubble outbuilding at east, now largely ruined.

Roof Natural Slate
Walling Ruled-and-lined render
Windows timber
RWG uPVC

Historical information

Buildings are present on the first edition Ordnance Survey map of 1833. The present house appears to have been constructed on the site of a previous dwelling, but is difficult to date from field inspection. Outbuildings to the north east of the current house appear to have survived from at least the time of the first edition (1833). An outbuilding to the west appears for the first time on the second edition.

The buildings are not recorded in the Townland Valuation (1828-40). Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64) map shows a further dwelling adjoining the current house on the east side which appears to have survived, and is now an outbuilding. Both houses are valued at £1 and are leased from John Grey Porter. The house to the east is occupied by the Doyle family throughout the period of Annual Revisions (1864-29) and they become the owners in fee c.1880. The house to the west is initially occupied by Charles Patterson. Robert Armstrong becomes the occupier after 1880 (undated change) and the valuation is increased to £1.2s (undated change). This may mark the rebuilding of the property but is not a particularly large increase in value.

In 1933 the house sited to the west is occupied by Charles Armstrong who is the owner in fee and is valued at £2.10s. This increase in value could indicate rebuilding or remodelling. It comprises a kitchen, two bedrooms, and a reception on the ground floor and a bedroom on the first floor. The two storey house is of rubble masonry and slate and measures 16x19x18. There is also an outbuilding between the two houses that appears to have been thatched at this time.

The house to the east is occupied by Philip Doyle and is valued at £1.5s and 10s for outbuildings. The house measures 41x16x9 and is of rubble masonry and thatch.

The current owner advises that the house was rebuilt in the early c20th. However, the detailing appears to contradict this view, relating more to the undated change noted above although the further increase in valuation in 1933 supports the owner's view. It is possible that materials and elements, such as fireplaces, were re-used.

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/6/56/1-4 - Ordnance Survey Maps (1833, 1852, 1905-6, 1939)
2. PRONI VAL/1/B/631B – Townland Valuation (1828-40)
3. PRONI VAL/2/A/6/56 – Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64)
4. PRONI VAL/2/B/6/33B - Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64)
5. PRONI VAL/12/B/40/2A-F – Annual Revisions (1864-1929)
6. PRONI VAL/3/D/7/8Z/2 – Valuers’ RV Binder (1933-57)

Secondary Sources
1. Current owner

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 symmetrical two-storey two-bay early twentieth-century farmhouse. The house is simply detailed and neatly proportioned, representing in its symmetry the introduction of more formal elements of design to otherwise modest rural dwellings. Although of a relatively late date, it is of an older style and, overall, the house holds much of interest, retaining its original layout and detailing, reflecting an eearlier house, and still in occupation. This is an uncommon survival in its original setting and with various traditionally constructed outbuildings.

General comments

New listing. Six-inch map not available.