Mullartown House

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Two and a half storey/ three bay building with main elevation to south. The pitched roof is of natural slate with a chimney at each gable: that to left is of coursed granite blocks, the other cement rendered. Rainwater goods are plastic. Walls are regularly coursed granite blocks, with the exception of the north gable, which is rendered.

Front (south) elevation is symmetrical with central porch, which sits on a plinth (two steps high) and has two Doric columns, with pilasters behind, supporting an architrave and cornice. Sides have been infilled with granite blocks. Door is modern and glazed, with a wrought iron grille and margin-paned transom light. There are two windows on either side of the front door and also in line with them at first floor level. Above porch is a modern wrought-iron baluster rail enclosing a balcony with metal-framed French window. All windows are Georgian sliding sash (six over six) with granite cills.

Left-hand (west) elevation has a modern door and window to ground floor and single sliding sash window at first floor.

Rear elevation faces onto a courtyard. It has a one and half storey gabled modern extension at centre and a single storey gabled lean-to to right.

To the left side of rear elevation is a low two storey block (formerly an outhouse); its rear (east-facing) wall is in line with the right gable of the house.

The right (east) gable of the house has one window at attic level and metal fire escape stair down to a single storey extension to right of main façade. This one-bay wide structure, which is used as a dining room and extends backwards, has a flat roof, pebble dashed walls and stained timber windows.

At rear left is a modern single storey dwelling with gabled roof and modern windows. On the north side of the courtyard is a two-storey barn with external steps and original animal stalls.

The planted grounds are mature, with lawns and shrubs to main façade, walled garden with small green house to the west and small lawn to the east. The foundations of a shell house survive on the boundary wall at Glassdrumman Road.

Historical information

A building is shown here on the 1834 OS 6” map. It is explicitly captioned ‘Mullartown House’ on the 1859 edition. The house was last occupied as a residence in the late 1970s. Since then it has been a residential conference centre. The extensions and alterations date from this time. Most of its fireplaces were removed in the early 1980s.

Primary Source:
1. PRONI – OS 6/3/53/1 (1834 OS map).
2. PRONI- OS 6/3/53/2 (1859 OS map).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
D. Plan Form
H-. Alterations detracting from building
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Important house of strong local character but marred by inappropriate extensions. However, the original house retains sufficient quality in terms of its symmetry, plan and quality of build to merit listing. The fireplace, plaster work and internal doors are also mostly original. Of local interest and an attractive setting in mature garden.