To rear of 70 Greencastle Pier Rd

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

This complex comprises three structures, all on the south side of the road overlooking the sea: (1) kiln, (2) two-storey dwelling, and (3) one-storey dwelling.

1. Kiln

A substantial structure orientated north-south, with its draw hole to south. The top and sides have been artificially embanked, and the latter slope down to rubble stone retaining walls. The front is delineated by a wall, also of random rubble, and there is a low wall around the top (except to north to permit access from the rear ramp). There is a single circular pot. The draw hole has a segmental head some 2.5m above the ground, and splayed reveals, all of roughly dressed granite.

A one-storey lean-to abuts the front of the kiln, enveloping the draw hole. It formerly had a natural slate roof, but most of this has disappeared. Its walls are of random rubble, with projecting eaves course. It is internally divided into two sections: at left is a doorway and to its right a window illuminating the section over the draw hole; at right is another doorway into a smaller room which wraps around part of the east side of the kiln. Wall breaks suggest that this lean-to is a later addition to the original kiln.

The whole structure is in a derelict and overgrown state.

2. Two-storey dwelling

Immediately to the right (east) of the kiln is a substantial two-storey/ four-bay house. The three bays at left contain the dwelling, and the right-hand bay a store. It has a natural slate roof with finely-dressed granite verges; the rainwater goods are missing. There is a rendered chimney to the left gable, and a second between the third and fourth bays. There are three skylights to the rear pitch. The walls are of lime rendered random rubble, with a projecting eaves course.

The principal façade faces to the sea. At ground floor centre is an asbestos-roofed lean-to with entrance door to front and infilled window opening on its right cheek. There is a window opening, now sheeted over, to the bay on either side of the entrance porch. At first floor, three dormer windows, also sheeted over, break the eaves, in line with the ground floor openings.

At ground floor right is a large doorway into the end-bay store. This entrance has a flat head of finely dressed granite voussoirs and contains a pair of sheeted timber doors. There are no first floor openings to this end bay elevation.

The left gable is blank save for a boarded-over window opening at ground floor left.

The rear elevation has a window opening at centre, and a doorway at right; both are sheeted over. The first floor is devoid of openings.

The right elevation has a loading door at first floor. Immediately to its right is a wrought-iron gate into the back yard. This contains several small sheds of no special merit.

The building is presently in reasonable condition.

3. One-storey dwelling

Immediately north-east of the above dwelling is a one-storey/ four-bay house aligned north-south. It has an asbestos slate roof with clay verges. There are low rendered chimneys between bays 1 and 2, 3 and 4, and on the gable of bay 4 at right. The walls are of whitewashed and lime rendered random rubble.

At centre is a flat porch with partly glazed sheeted door on its right cheek and 3/3 sliding sash to front. There are two 3/3 sashes to left of the porch (one to each bay), and two to right (to the third and fourth bays). All the windows have painted cills and exposed boxes. Gravelled garden to front.

Both gables are blank.

At rear, the wall is pebbledashed. A small lean-to abuts the right-hand bay. It has a corrugated asbestos roof, window in yard-facing wall, and rounded corner.

This house is well maintained as a holiday home.

Historical information

A kiln and two buildings are shown on the 1834 OS 6” map. The 1835 valuation notes the complex as comprising a “store house and yard for coal, timber, slates and belonging to William Hamilton of Kilkeel”. The storehouse is measured at 66ft x 24ft x 15ft high – this would accord with what is now the two-storey dwelling. The dwelling is noted at 40ft x 16ft 6in x 7ft – this would accord with the one-storey dwelling.

The 1863 valuation makes explicit mention of the lime kiln, as well as the coal store and offices. All then belonged to Sarah Cunningham. The kiln is depicted on the 1859 OS map in its present form, i.e. with enclosed drawhole to front.

The lime store and coal store are crossed out of the valuation books during the later 1800s. It is probable that the two-storey store was converted into a dwelling around or shortly after this date.

Primary Sources:
1. OS 6" map, 1st edition (1834) Co Down sheet 57 (PRONI OS/6/3/57/1)
2. PRONI- VAL 1B/390A, p.170 (1834 valuation)
3. OS 6" map, 2nd edition (1859) Co Down sheet 57 (PRONI OS/6/3/57/2)
4. PRONI- VAL 2B/3/81C, p.59 (1863 valuation); VAL 12B/19/13A, p.23 (valuation revision).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Whilst none of the elements of the complex are particularly special in their own right, they have a modicum of interest as a minor industrial and commercial concern. The kiln’s industrial/commercial context is reflected its bigger size compared with the more common field kilns which were primarily for localised agricultural purposes.