House

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A single-storey/ two bay hearth-lobby vernacular dwelling aligned NW-SE to the E of McMahon’s Spadeworks (HB12/01/086).

Pitched corrugated metal roof with brick chimney to centre. No rainwater goods. Principal elevation faces SW. Walls are lime-rendered random rubble stone. Right bay has a t+g sheeted door set to left. To its right is a 2/2 sliding sash window. Left bay has a similar window.

Left and right gables are blank.

The rear elevation has a single window to left bay.

Historical information

This dwelling is the only survivor of three houses which once accommodated the workers from McMahon’s nearby spade mill (HB12/01/086). Although buildings are shown on the 1835 OS 6” map, the brickwork around the window openings suggests a mid-19th century date, probably when the spade mill came into operation.

The first HMBB survey card of 1989 describes the complex as: “a two-storey three -house terrace with the centre one demolished. The house to the left had a pitched natural slate roof with two corbelled red brick chimneys. Plastic/metal/cast iron rainwater goods. Walls are wet dashed and painted with smooth painted basecourse. Windows were two-paned sliding sashes. Entrance door was flush ply with one pane. The house to the right has one chimney to left gable. Windows are 2/2 sliding sashes – one to each floor. Entrance door to left is t+g sheeted. Brick and timber lintels.”

Primary sources
1. First survey card dated 1989.
2. OS map, 1st edition, Co Fermanagh sheet 36.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A hearth-lobby vernacular dwelling used by the local workers from McMahon’s Spadeworks (HB12/01/086).