"The Carthouse"

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Single-storey /two-bay semi-detached vernacular dwelling facing ESE reconstructed on the footprint of an original house.

Pitched natural slate roof with blue clay ridge and raised concrete verges. There is a whitewashed masonry chimney rising from the free gable. Rainwater gutters are half round metal and down pipes are turned onto the gable. Walls are wet dashed and painted and there are large corner boulders. No eaves corbel.

Principal elevation faces to yard. Entrance at middle is approached by one granite step and a concrete threshold. Painted t+g sheeted door lit by a bulkhead light. At ground floor left is a 1/1 sash, and to right is a 2/2 window. All windows have exposed boxes and granite cills.

Left gable blank.

Rear wall has a 2/2 sash at left and a 6/6 sash at middle. Gas box and flue at left and vent to right of left window.

Right gable forms party wall with adjoining dwelling (HB16/05/001C).

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). Very little original fabric has survived the recent conversion and renovation