"The Barn"

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Detached barn facing ESE, now converted into a 1½ storey / two bay dwelling.

Pitched natural slate roof with blue clay ridge tiles and concrete verges; no chimney. Large metal flue on rear pitch. Rainwater gutters are half round metal and downpipes are turned onto the left hand gable. No eaves corbel. Walls are wet dashed and whitewashed; upper sections are new. At each corner is a large exposed granite foundation boulder.

Principal elevation faces into yard. Entrance is right of centre and comprises a sheeted and painted half door approached by a path of granite setts and lit above left by a modern bulkhead fitting. To its left is a 2/2 window with granite cill. To its right is a narrower 1/1 sash. All windows have exposed boxes with granite cills unless otherwise stated.

Left gable has a 2/2 sash to each floor. That to ground floor is set at right and that to upper floor is set to centre.

To rear, at ground floor left, is a 2/2 window above which is a plastic extractor vent, a stainless steel balance flue, and a gas regulator box; at right is a modern bulkhead light. Off centred left on upper floor is a 1/1 window.

Right gable has a 2/2 sash to centre of upper floor.

Setting:
This is a prominent site overlooking the Kilkeel River. It is delineated by dry boulder granite walls, partly original, part rebuilt and part new. The few perimeter trees are of importance to the character of the site. Carriageways are paved in quarry dust/crushed shalestone and edged with granite kerbstones. Walkways are granite setts and the remaining open space is grass with small beds of flowers. There are a number of gates. Some are old, but those on the vehicular entrances are newly made to traditional designs. Each house has a specially designed cast metal plaque as part of the refurbishment.

Historical information

Clachan shown on 1834 OS 6” map and subsequent editions.

Sources:
PRONI – OS 6/3/56/1 (Down sheet 56).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Forms part of an important vernacular grouping (clachan) but in conversion and restoration it has been substantially altered.