135 Knock More Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Single storey/ three bay vernacular house located up a long lane, high on an exposed hillside with spectacular views to the NE.

Pitched corrugated metal roof aligned N-S and collapsed to left (S) end. Two rubble limestone coped chimneys – one to right gable and the other on party wall with left and central bays; a chimney on left gable is missing although brick chimneybreast remains. Rubble stone skews.

Walls are of squared random limestone rubble, with the remains of a lime render in places. The centre and right bays seems to form an original two bay house.. Main entrance is to right side of central bay. It is set within a small shallow porch (walls as main block) with cast concrete roof. The left side of the porch has collapsed and door and frame are gone. To left of entrance is small window opening with rendered reveals, no cill, and stone lintel. A similar single window to right bay has partially collapsed. Left bay has a slightly larger and similarly detailed window set to right of centre, which suggests it is a later addition although no visible wall break can be seen.

Left and right gables are blank

Rear elevation has partially collapsed window to central bay and blocked up window to left bay.

To front is a concrete paved yard enclosed by a (five coursed) concrete block wall to N and E. To S side of yard is a two storey outbuilding with pitched corrugated metal roof (aligned W-E). It has large squared stone quoins and rubble stone walls. Yard (N) facing elevation has two doorways, with a small window to right-end. To first floor is a loading doorway. Left (E) gable is irregularly cement rendered and has two small square window openings to each floor. Rear (S) elevation has a square window at ground floor and a loading door to first floor. The right (W) gable is blank and partially collapsed at top.

To the S of the house and outbuilding is a small enclosed field, possible a kitchen garden, to the E side of which a small, modern, single storey office has been erected in rendered concrete blockwork. Close by are a number of chambered graves and caves.

Historical information

Hugh Acheson is listed as a registered freeholder at Rossinure Beg in 1767; a headstone in the old Derrygonnelly graveyard was erected to him in 1807 (he died aged 71years). This house and farm is believed to be Hugh Acheson’s freehold, as it was occupied by his family until the late 1950s. The owner in 1999 was also of this lineage.

The house is shown on the 1834 OS map, but the outbuilding is not. It is not cited on the first valuation indicating a value of less than £5 per year. The second valuation cites Edward Acheson (occupant) with the house valued at £1. Charles Acheson is occupant from 1867 and Jane Acheson from 1877. William Hugh Acheson replaces Jane in 1914. House value stays the same during this period.

The well-known local story of Ribbon-men informer Dominic Noon is connected with this house. It is believed it was on this farm that Dominic worked before joining the Ribbon Men – he was later uncovered as a police informer and in 1845 was murdered by the Ribbon-men. His body was disposed in a place now known as Noon’s Hole, Boho (5 km form this site).

This building was occupied as a dwelling until the late 1950s and remained thatched until 1961. From that time it has been used as a byre.

Primary Sources:
1. 1st edition OS 6” map (1834) Co Fermanagh sheet 14.
2. First valuation (1834) PRONI VAL/1B/424A
3. Second valuation (1860) PRONI VAL/2B/4/16A p24.
4. Valuation revisions PRONI VAL/12B/26/12B p9.
5. Valuation revisions PRONI VAL12B/26/12E p21.
6. Information from owner in 1999.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

This formerly thatched vernacular building, built of attractive local stone, has a spectacular setting, but unfortunately has lost much of its architectural detail. The link to Dominic Noon adds local historical interest.