The Thatch

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A single storey, one room, direct entry thatched building positioned on the north side of Main Street, Belleek.

The thatched covering terminates at the right (east) side by means of a concrete parapet gable and on the opposite side it butts against the gable of the adjoining house and is finished with a cement fillet. There are two rows of exposed scollops at the ridge and one at the eaves. A squat chimneystack with concrete capping rises from the right hand (east) gable and contains one pot. The external finish is of lightly rubbed up render with a black-coloured base. The rear of the building is roughcast. Kitchen and toilet accommodation at the rear is of concrete brick construction with cement fibre slating finished with deep timber bargeboards and plastic rainwater goods.

The entrance, gained by ascending two external steps is flanked on either side by a vertically sliding window with margined paned sashes. Sash stops are chamfered and sills are of intermediate depths. There are no openings in the gable.

Historical information

The OS map of 1834 / 35 suggests this site was occupied by a building at that date, however the c.1838 valuation plan of Belleek indicates it had not yet been developed. It is difficult to be certain of the latter, however, for, unlike later valuation surveys, it is not based on an accurate OS plan of the village, and as such may give a slightly misleading picture as to the exact location of each property. Taking this into account, it is probable that the building we see today was present at that date, and was one of the ‘exempt’ properties (i.e. modest is size and below rateable value) recorded on this side of Main Street in the accompanying valuation book.

The (more accurate) plan drawn up for the second valuation survey of Belleek in 1859 shows the house, as present. The dimensions are recorded in the accompanying valuers’ notebook as 4yrds x 7 x 1(storey), with quality letter ‘2B-’ suggesting a building of over 20 years old. The occupant is listed in the notebook as Edward Keenahan, with John C. Bloomfield, (one of co-founders of the Belleek Pottery), the immediate lessor, and the rateable value calculated at 15/-.

Planning permission was granted in 1989 for a change of use and extension to the property to form a museum. The building was re-thatched in 1996 by Frank Gilligan using rye straw.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI VAL/1A/4/8 OS map, County Fermanagh sheet 8, with valuation
references (1834 / 35-c.38)
2 PRONI VAL/1B/415A-B First valuation, Belleek (c.1835)
3 PRONI VAL/1D/4/2 Valuation plan of Belleek village (c.1838)
4 PRONI VAL/2B/4/10 Second valuation, Belleek (1859)
5 PRONI VAL/2D/4/4 Second valuation plan of Belleek village (1859)

Secondary sources
1 “Water Wonderful World”, in ‘The Belfast News-Letter’, 20 February 1997

Other references
1 EHS Survey of Thatched Buildings, report by Colin Hatrick to EHS, 1992
2 EHS Monitoring of Thatched Buildings, report by Michele McFaul to EHS, 30 May 1994
3 EHS Letter from Planning Service to EHS, 10 December 1996

The house was owned originally by John C Bloomfield and David McBirnley who were the founders of the Belleek Pottery.
The owner in 1985 Was Mr Kevin McCann of The Commons, Belleek.
Planning permission was granted in 1889 for a change of use and extension to the property to form a museum.
The building was re-thatched in 1996 by Frank Gilligan using rye straw.

References – Primary Sources

1. OS map, 1st edition 1834, Co. Fermanagh sheet 8. The building appears on this map.
2. OS map, 1st revision 1856, Co. Fermanagh sheet 8. A structure of similar shape appears on this map.

Secondary Sources

Survey of Thatched Buildings 1992, report by Colin Hatrick to EHS
Monitoring of Thatched Buildings, report by Michele McFaul to EHS 30 May 1994
Letter from Planning Service to EHS 10 December 1996
Water Wonderful World, Newsletter article 20 February 1997

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
F. Structural System

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest
Z. Rarity

Evaluation

A single storey, one room direct entry thatched building. The appearance from the front is unaltered and the form of the thatched roof follows traditional lines. The interior has been modified to express a catering function and is considered to be acceptable.