Sunnybank

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A two-storey, 3-bay gabled building with a single storey gabled wing projecting to each side. Main entrance faces south.

South elevation: roof of Bangor blue slates in regular courses; two chimneys, one on each gable, smooth cement rendered. Wall is wet dash rendered with smooth cement rendered plinth; projecting brick eaves course, painted. Windows are later rectangular timber fixed lights with top-hung vent, in smooth rendered block surrounds; projecting stone cills. Doorway rectangular containing a glazed ledged timber door recessed in a rendered block surround; concrete doorstep level with cement screed driveway and forecourt area. PVC gutter and downpipe.
West wing is of similar walling with similar surround to one large window; Tudor-style drip moulding over window; window is later rectangular timber fixed lights with casement and top-hung vent.
East wing is a later replacement for original east wing in smooth cement render with unmoulded window opening presumably replacing an original wing to match left-hand wing.

West elevation of main block of house: plain gable smooth rendered but spalled to reveal original brickwork core.

West elevation of west wing: roof slated as previous, with stone copings to gables; walling rendered as previous; one window, unmoulded opening, containing a later small-paned metal window.

Rear elevation of east wing is similar to its front elevation.

Rear elevation of main block: two-storey, 3-bay, with central projection. Roof slated as to front; walling is partly smooth rendered, lined and blocked and partly lime washed over red brick core. Windows are rectangular timber fixed lights with top-hung vents, in unmoulded openings. Rectangular timber sheeted door. Rear elevation of west wing is overgrown.

East elevation of main block is a similarly rendered gable.

East elevation of east wing: roof of synthetic slates; walling smooth cement rendered; projecting flat roof and porch to right-hand end.
Two doorways, plain unmoulded rectangular openings with modern glazed flush timber doors; two windows, plain unmoulded rectangular openings, with modern timber fixed lights and top-hung vents.

SETTING: The building stands in its own grounds facing the main road in a rural area. Pleasant front garden with trees and shrubs. Concrete driveway up to front and east side of house.
Small rear yard with moss-grown surface; single storey gabled block to rear of house of similar character and materials as rear of main block of house.
Corrugated iron sheeting and modern tubular metal gate leads into rear yard, between front right-hand wing and a short rendered screen wall.

Historical information

Precise date of building not known but it appears to be of 19th century date. The original east wing was built as a courthouse but was replaced by the present east wing c 1960, while the main block of the house served as a police barracks until superseded by the later RUC barracks (HB12/10/044) standing two properties away to the east at nos. 365-367 Sligo Road, which itself is now also converted to private residential use.

References – Secondary Sources
1. A.J. Rowan, The Buildings of Ireland: North-West Ulster (Harmondsworth, 1979), p 341.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

This is a 19th century building which was a former police barracks but is of no special architectural or historic interest.