Pair of Cottages

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A pair of symmetrical one-and-a-half storey / two bay houses aligned SE-NW directly to the S of Carra Old Bridge (HB12/02/081).

Each cottage has a pitched natural slate roof - now in poor state of repair with two cement-rendered chimneys; one on party wall within each dwelling. There is a cast-iron skylight to rear pitch to S dwelling. Boxed eaves with timber soffit and plain bargeboards. Half-round metal rainwater goods. Walls are lime-washed and lime-rendered over rubble stone. Windows are the remains of 1/1 sliding sashes (without horns), cills are stone.

Principal elevations face NE. Each dwelling has a windbreak porch to end bay (detailed as main block) with ridge rising to eaves level. Each has a t+g-sheeted door and both cheeks are blank. Both bays of both dwellings have single windows (those to right dwelling are boarded over).

Left and right gables have a window to apex.

Rear elevation has a 2/2 fixed-pane window to the left bay of the left cottage and the right bay of the right house respectively.

Setting:
The cottages occupy an exposed and prominent site overlooking the River Finn.

Historical information

Although a building is first shown on the 1857 OS 6" map, the Valuation revision book suggests that the present houses date from 1879. The entry for this year notes each as having a valuation of £1.10s.0d, and being owned by First Thompson of Carra House. They were probably erected as farm labourers' houses.

Primary sources:
1. OS 6" map, 2nd edition (1857), Co Fermanagh sheet 40 (PRONI OS 6/4/40/2).
2. Valuation Revision book, Clonscallan DED, Clones Union, 1879 (VAL 12B/25/2B, p.4).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

An interesting and prominently sited pair of vernacular dwellings to the S of Carra Old Bridge (HB12/02/081).