Farm Complex

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Farmhouse and complex of outbuildings evolved around three sides of a yard.

Farmhouse:

A two-storey/ four bay house facing south (bay at left a later addition). Pitched roof has artificial slates and three cement rendered chimneys (one to each gable, and a third between the first and second bay). Plastic gutters. Walls are granite rubble rendered with lined cement.

The south (main) elevation was originally symmetrical with a central door, this is of painted timber with three glazed panes above and panelled below. All windows are modern, of timber top hung design - ground floor has two to left of front door and one to right (one per bay); first floor has four windows, each in line with opening below. All cills granite.

Left gable is plain. Right gable has a 1/1 top hung timber window to ground floor and a small fixed pane to first floor left.

Rear façade has a one-storey lean-to kitchen extension to bays 1 - 3 with sky-lit slated roof, small chimney at left and rendered granite walls. It has two 2/2 sliding sash windows to left of a modern timber door. There is a manually-operated cowtail water pump between the windows. The right bay (i.e. the addition) has a margin paned sliding sash window to each floor. All cills also of granite.

Looking into yard at rear of house, and moving anti-clockwise, the outbuildings are:

Outbuilding 1

A two-storey barn with gabled natural slate roof and painted random rubble walls. A single storey return abuts at left on yard-facing façade, and a slated monopitched shed to right gable. Main block has two t+g sheeted doors to ground floor and stone steps rising to similar door at first floor right. First floor door has small dormer gable above. Dormer window to its left (above left ground floor door) with modern timber insert. Rear elevation has lean-to shed abutting at right. One t+g door at left, and window opening, now infilled. Skylight to roof on this elevation.

Outbuilding 2 (opposite rear of dwelling).

A single storey/ one-bay shed. Pitched natural slate roof and walls of painted random rubble. Façade, which faces into yard, has an enlarged modern timber window. To its right is a t+g boarded door.

Outbuilding 3

Two-storey barn with large single storey shed on left gable. Roofs of both are pitched, and have natural slates. Walls of painted random rubble. A single t+g door at right, with 2 x 2 window to its left. Left again is a sheeted metal door, and at extreme left, over a t&g door, stone stairs rise to first floor level. First floor has t+g boarded door below dormer gable, with two 2 x 2 windows to right.

Shed on left gable has a t+g door at left and at right, with a small window between. PVC window in left gable, with pigeon roosts in apex and lean-to corrugated metal roofed shed below. At rear, lean-tos abut both blocks. That to two-storey section is of rendered concrete blockwork with corrugated metal roof. That to one-storey section is of corrugated metal throughout.

Outbuilding 4 (beside, and in line with, house)

A one-storey garage, with pitched asbestos tiled roof and rendered walls. Two large metal sliding doors to front, a fixed window at right gable and one similar window at rear.

Good stone walls and flat-iron carriage and pedestrian gates to road.

Historical information

Buildings are shown on 1834 OS 6” map (Down sheet 56). Not valued in 1834 Valuation, suggesting that existing complex had not yet evolved. By 1861, in the ownership of Samuel McMurray, who also owned the nearby flax mill (HB16/02/013). Marked on 1901 map as Balinran P.O. The post office was apparently in the left bay, with entrance (now blocked) at rear. Current owner has small private museum, which includes details of history, original documentation and photographs.

Sources:
1. PRONI – OS 6/3/5/6/1.
2. PRONI- VAL 1B/390B p.163.
3. PRONI- VAL 2B/3/81F, p.49.
4. Owner

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

D. Plan Form
H-. Alterations detracting from building
H+. Alterations enhancing the building
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest
Z. Rarity

Evaluation

Although some windows have been altered in the dwelling, these are within the original structural openings and does not detract badly from the overall vernacular character of this complex. The group illustrates an evolution which is ongoing and of great character. Very few such groups have survived due to modern farming requirements.