40 Killowen Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A two-storey/ three-bay house on the north side of Killowen Road. Pitched natural slate roof (but top half of rear pitch has artificial slates) with terracotta ridge tiles and verges. Semicircular metal rainwater goods. Two coped painted, cement-rendered chimneys, one to each gable.

Principal elevation faces south to road. Walls are Silurian rubble brought to courses with granite quoins, lintels and window surrounds. Deep cement basecourse and cement path surrounding the house. Main entrance slightly left of centre contains a four panelled painted timber door with narrow plain transom above. Granite threshold step and narrow smooth cement rendered architrave. To left and to right of door is a 6/6 sliding sash window (without horns). All windows have granite cills and cement rendered architraves. There are three 6/6 windows to first floor, in line with the ground floor openings. Directly below cill to middle window is a course of red bricks.

Left and right gables are wet dashed rendered and blank.

Rear elevation walls are wet dashed render. One t+g painted timber door to first floor, right of centre, with render surround with 12 steps dropping to right (bottom nine have granite steps, top three rendered and painted). Side of steps wet dashed render and painted.
Ground floor rear elevation formerly had three openings now rendered over (visible from the interior). One window opening to left bay (from rear) and one door opening with window opening on right to right bay.

Historical information

A building is first shown at this location on the 1859 OS 6” map, indicating a mid-19th century construction date. It is described as 11yd x 7yd x 2 storeys in the 1861 Valuation; these dimensions accord with the present structure. During the present century it was used for a time as a post office.

Sources:
1. PRONI – OS 6/3/54/1 (Down sheet 54)
2. PRONI- OS 6/3/54/2 (Down sheet 54)
3. PRONI-VAL 2B/3/61A; p.48.
4. Owner (1998).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

D. Plan Form
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Although in poor condition this vernacular farmhouse is an important survivor of its type. Prominently situated beside the main Newry-Kilkeel road, it remains relatively intact and unaltered.