84 Killowen Old Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Predominantly single storey post-war house with partly two-storey main block, situated on an elevated site overlooking Carlingford Lough. Setting is mature with rocky outcrop to front garden, winding path (an original feature) and sweeping driveway (a later addition as original drive stopped at foot of hill). A modern bungalow has been constructed on low ground to front (on former tennis court).

Property consists of four abutting blocks. Main block faces south east, and is abutted at NE by kitchen block. Accommodation block abuts SW side of main block. Fourth block is a recent extension abutting right gable of kitchen block.

All blocks have pitched concrete tiled roofs (originally cedar shingled), with overhanging plain painted timber eaves and bargeboards and sheeted soffits. Rainwater goods are semicircular plastic. There is a modern double glazed skylight to rear pitch of main and accommodation blocks (both replacing original two paned skylights).

All roof ridges run SW-NE. The main and kitchen blocks are deep relative to their width and both have longer rear pitches. On the main block, the two storey high ridge falls to a single storey at rear. There are two chimneys: one to rear pitch of main block and the other to left gable of kitchen block (each is painted smooth rendered with projecting concrete coping). Semicircular rainwater goods and downpipes are plastic.

Walls are painted smooth cement render (although main facade of main block was originally cedarwood shingled). All windows have a canted double course of brown tiles forming cills, except south elevation of main block which are concrete. All have plain reveals and are stained hardwood replacements unless otherwise stated.

Main entrance is set within a porch on SE (front) elevation of kitchen block and its left cheek abuts right gable of main block, door through to main block. Porch rests on a plinth of brown tiles with overhang to each of its approach steps. Below the steps is a dog kennel accessed on right cheek of retaining wall. Porch roof is a continuation of kitchen roof. It is constructed in plastic double glazing. Its right cheek has three vertical panes and its SE face consists of two large glazed modern sliding doors (originally a single glazed door with large fixed glass panel to left.

On facade of main block there are identical large horizontal windows openings to each floor. Ground floor window has four equal fixed panes (originally six with those to each end had top hung transoms). That to first floor has three fixed panes.

Right gable of main block it is obscured totally by a mature creeper. At ground floor , to front left of porch, is a four paned casement window. Above and to left are two small windows, separated by a rendered mullion but with a common cill. Windows on both floors are set to right of roof ridge; there are no openings to its left.

Left gable of main block is abutted to rear of its roof ridge by the gable of the accomodation block. Exposed wall to front has a painted sheeted oak door and two square windows to ground floor and two two paned windows to first floor. On wall at first floor level are six projecting tapering concrete posts (with wire holes) forming a pergola.

Accommodation block has three sets of three paned windows to front elevation. There is a similar window to rear side of left gable. The wall of this gable continues to front as a windbreak, enclosing a grassed area to left of main block. Rear elevation of accommodation block has two similar windows to left side and a narrower two paned window to right.

Back wall of main block has a horizontal window broken into five casements: these are painted timber and seem original. Its exposed right cheek has a single taller casement window.

Right gable of kitchen block (as viewed from rear) is abutted to right by main block and to left has three very narrow horizontal windows. That to right has been enlarged (cill lowered and replaced) and those to left have single fixed panes.

Back wall of kitchen block is devoid of openings. Remaining gable is abutted (in line with roof ridge) by a recent extension. On wall to its right is a linear opening from floor to eaves with modern multi panelled stained timber door and fixed transom over. Originally there was a windbreak to this door but this is now gone.

Extension is gabled with a rendered base course and vertical plastic double glazing.

Free standing to right is a rendered flat roofed outbuilding running parallel with kitchen block.

Historical information

Original plans are dated at August 1953. House was designed by Robert McKinstry (his first to be built) in co-operation with Mr and Mrs A.W. Hay-Edie. Work was undertaken by Major W.J. Hanna, Kilkeel, and was completed 1955 at a cost of £5,000.

Gerd Hay-Edie was a well-known bespoke textile designer. Born Gerd Bergersen in 1909, she settled in Ireland with her husband in 1947. She established Mourne Textiles in 1949, and when the house was completed, worked in the small outbuilding. Clients included Robin Day (for Heathrow airport), Terence Conran, Sybil Connolly, and Liberty’s. She died in 1997.

Contemporary magazine articles liken its form to traditional Ulster farm buildings and its Scandinavian influences are due to Mrs Hay-Edie’s Norwegian background. She and her husband had the house designed to provide a small home for their younger children (with large prominent playroom) and to accommodate their older children when on holiday from boarding school.

Primary Sources:
1. Information supplied by Robert McKinstry (architect).
2. Irish architect and contractor, June 1956, p.25.
3. Creation-The Irish magazine of fashion and décor, August 1957, pp 62-7.
4. Obituary by Mary Schoeser in Craft Magazine (supplied by Jason McKinstry).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

This house reflects the post-war move to more informal, family orientated living. Originally finished to a high specification, much of this has been replaced with cheaper materials. As a result the building has lost much of its original character.