Bellevue

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Originally part of the Ballyedmond Estate and with clear evidence of landscaping in the tree planting round about. The format of the building suggests that it has vernacular beginnings and may have originally faced north but each generation has left its mark so that it now presents itself as a picturesque modestly sized country house with the principal elevation facing south.

The building is two-storey/ three-bay. Pitched natural slate roof. There are three rendered chimneystacks on the main ridge, all with yellow octagonal pots - one on each gable and the third traditionally placed on the main hearth wall between the first and second bay (from left). The fire shafts are expressed in the form of the stacks: the central and right hand stacks have three shafts and the left hand has two. This supports the suggestion that the western bay was an addition but this is likely to have been early in the life of the building. The front pitch is interrupted by three cross gables, one to each bay each with highly decorative and fretted bargeboards. Eaves and verges overhang and are boxed. Rainwater goods are half-round cast-iron.

The walls are cement rendered and painted. The front entrance is at right on middle bay of the principal elevation. The door is an unusual pattern of two panels over one, all raised and fielded. It has been modified to overcome settlement and it is small in scale compared with the present windows. These factors suggest that it is of early date, perhaps late 18th century. There is a plain overlight and this, too, is in keeping with that range of dating. The area in front of the door is paved in granite and this platform is approached by two granite steps. Above, this bay is advanced and supported by two painted monolithic granite pillars with stop-end chamfered arrises thus creating an open porch. At first floor is a paired casement window below the gable.

To the right of the entrance is a single storey canted bay with old casement windows (possibly Edwardian). The roof of the bay is edged by a very decorative cast iron gutter trim (crested along top and diaper/ billet mould along bottom). At first floor is a paired casement window under the cross gable.

To the left of the entrance and part of the central bay there are, at ground floor, two 1/1 sliding sash windows with exposed boxes and horns. Above, at first floor, is a four-casement window that appears to be Edwardian.

The left (western) bay is the same as the right (eastern) bay at both floors, including the single storey canted bay window.

The left (west) gable has an overhanging plain verge. At ground floor is a 1/1 sliding sash and two French casement windows with plain overlight. At first floor there is a paired casement.

To left of this gable is two-storey return with natural slate roof and plain gable chimney. The roof of the bay is hipped at the intersection with the main roof. The walls are smooth rendered. At ground floor there are two modern top-hung windows. At first floor there are two 1/1 sliding sash windows. There is a small single-storey storeroom tucked into the junction of the return with the main building. Beyond the return, through a wrought iron gate, is the service drive in stone macadam leading into the yard and also beyond the yard to the north side of the house.

The north elevation is wet dashed. There is a small paned Yorkshire sash lighting the rear service passage but all other windows and doors appear to be relatively modern. There is also an eastern return which is single storey and has a simple single chimneystack. Its walls are wet dashed.

The right (east) gable has an overhanging verge and plain bargeboards. At ground floor there is a small top hung modern casement to the rear. At first floor, towards the front is a paired casement and to the rear, a fanlight single casement.

Historical information

Cited as ‘Ballyneddan’ on 1834 OS 6” map. Described in 1836 Ordnance Survey Memoir as a plain two-storey house. In 1838 was the residence of Capt. Samuel McCall and described as measuring 57ft x 25ft x 15ft. These statistics broadly accord with 1863 Valuation and those of present day structure.

Sources:
1. PRONI – OS 6/3/54/1 (1834 OS map) (Down sheet 54).
2. PRONI- VAL 1B/ 361, p.124 (1838 valuation).
3. PRONI- VAL 2B/3/61A, p.42 (1863 valuation).

Secondary Source:
1. Day A. 'Ordnance Survey Memoir of County Down, Kilkeel Parish.'

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
H+. Alterations enhancing the building
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

This is an interesting evolved house, probably of later 18th century origin. It has a series of extensions and alterations which combine to give a picturesque and attractive composition in an attractive setting.