Cottage at Corry Townland

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A single storey three bay mud walled direct entry thatched house with cruck trusses. Roof hipped at both ends and cut back perpendicular to the walls. Deep scallop thatch sitting low on the building below normal door height. Simple hazel rod trim at ridge and eaves. Walls lime rendered and whitewashed with cobbled drain around the base. The building is situated on a slight slope aligning east to west with a new house in modern barns aligning uphill to the west. Detached from the house and aligning uphill to the west is a small single storey house and adjoining barns. These are detailed to harmonise well with the historic building. In scale with the original dwelling, they have natural slate roofs , sash windows and step uphill along their length. To the east a small stream separating the farm from the nearby road. Running parallel to the house is a narrow lane with hedge at junction with the fields.

The main elevation facing north has a simple sheeted door into the eastern end of the central bay. To the west a small (400x 400mm) four pane sash with no cill. Beyond to the western bay a slightly larger 4 pane sash (400x800) with no cill. To the eastern bay another small two over two pane sash (400x400mm). Two chimneys on the ridge align with the interior walls separating the bays. These are low, rendered, and whitewashed.

The east elevation is blank and slightly curved.

The rear south elevation has two small windows. One to the central bay is a two pane casement- no cill. The other, to the eastern bay is a single pane casement.

The west elevation is blank.

To the rear of the building is a flat garden and an entrance drive to the new house. To the front of the new house some barns of corrugated metal.

Historical information

The building is indicated on the first edition Ordnance Survey map. From its construction a date of 1650 has been suggested for this house. The second valuation of 1862 records the occupant as Bridget McCorry, who was a tenant ‘at will’, leasing the property from the Earl of Erne, with the rateable value calculated at 10/-. The current owner (2001) is a direct descendant and was a thatcher as well as a farmer until his retirement. The building was thatched in rye when visited by the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum in 1988. It was re-thatched in wheat in 1989 and again in rye in 1998. Also in 1998 a major scheme of restoration and repair was undertaken by Hearth Housing Association. Works included the construction of a new house providing modern bathroom and kitchen accommodation in the small group of linear structures to the north.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI VAL/1A/4/42 OS map, County Fermanagh sheet 42, with valuation
references, (1834 / 35-c.38)
2 PRONI VAL/2A/4/42A Revised OS map, County Fermanagh sheet 42, with valuation references, (1857-c.60)
3 PRONI VAL/2B/4/8A Second valuation, Kinawley (1862)

Secondary sources
EHS file
Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, Department of Buildings, ‘Vernacular House Record’ by Dr Philip Mowat, 1988

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

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

Criteria for listing: historic interest

W. Northern Ireland/International Interest
Z. Rarity
Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A rare and well preserved example of an early vernacular type. Of architectural Interest for its design, setting, character, structural form and detail internally and externally which is unspoilt; of historical interest as an intact example of an early mud walled cruck framed house possibly dating from the mid seventeenth century; and of social interest for the preservation of much of its contents and plan form.