The Wood House

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Picturesque two-storey/ double-pile dwelling with Tudor Gothic detailing facing west on a commanding site overlooking Carlingford Lough.

Before a fire in the 1970s, the main building was five bays long to both piles but the most westerly bay of the front pile was not subsequently reconstructed. The original core may be vernacular in origin but has been considerably modified through time.

Parallel pitched roofs. The roof is mostly natural slate but artificial slate has been used on the parts that were damaged. There are three chimneystacks, all with plain rectangular bases. The two towards the western end have, above the base, five diagonally-set shafts (those on the most westerly stack are decorated with Gothic panelling in plaster). Roof eaves and verges overhang and are boxed in. The gables that were not reconstructed have decorative fretted bargeboards; those that were replaced are plain. Walls are wet dashed cement and painted with stepped smooth plaster dressings to all openings unless otherwise described.

The main entrance was originally on the west gable of the rear pile. After reconstruction it is now in gable of truncated front pile. Gothic styled door in a Gothic arch opening off a terrace (formed in what was originally front left bay).

West (principal) elevation is symmetrical, with three bays, each with a gable over the first floor window. The central gable is smaller than the other two; it and the right hand gable have decorative fretted bargeboards of a flowing design incorporating quatrefoils and finial. The left hand bargeboards are plain. At ground floor middle is a pair of eight-paned French casements with a two- paned overlight. Above, at first floor, is a pair of 4/4 sliding sashes with an apron panel with three quatrefoil panels. The left and right bays each have a projecting single storey canted bay window with embattled parapet and frieze decorated with quatrefoils. In the centre of each bay are French casements, approached by two granite steps and flanked by 2/8 sliding sashes. At first floor is a pair of 4/4 sliding sashes to right bay and a pair of eight paned casements to left bay; both have labelled drip moulds. In the apex of the left and right gables is a blind lancet; finial over.

The east elevation comprises a pair of gables detailed as the front left and middle gables respectively (except that the pattern of bargeboard fretting is different) and the pendant boss to the left hand finial is missing. Beyond this, at right, the end wall of an outbuilding returns to form a screen to the yard and is decorated with an embattled parapet

At the rear, roofs are all artificial slate, roof trim is plain and gutters are half round. This elevation not accessible at time of survey, but the window configuration appears to be irregular. Behind is a parallel range of single storey outbuildings, thus forming a narrow yard.

The left gable of the rear pile has, at ground floor, a modern three-light fixed window in a Tudor Gothic arched opening. Moulded stringcourse over. blind lancet in its apex. At first floor is a pair of casement windows with a label mould over and an apron panel decorated with quatrefoil panels. Blind lancet in apex. Behind this gable is a garage with crennelated parapet.

The
setting is landscaped with a series of terraces followed by a steep drop to the shore. Features in the grounds include a pair of octagonal granite gate piers, the caps oversailing, and are pitched up from face in stages to a point. Below this cap is a cornice moulding on frieze decorated with quatrefoils. The shaft has no decoration and is in one piece. The base is canted. The carriage gates are wrought iron with spearheads.

On the lower side of the drive is a rendered rubble wall with dressed domed coping; nearer the house this changes to masonry standards with decorative wrought iron panels between. At the house the extension of this feature forms a balustrade to a terrace and here it is masonry Gothic arcade with more decorative moulded coping. Attached to this is part of a wrought iron screen that seems once to have entirely closed off the garden from the drive but some rearrangement has taken place during the restoration.

There is also a series of flights of granite steps negotiating the landscaped terraces and a small round plunge pool with a central decorative fountain supported by three female figures (all of them damaged in one way or another).

Historical information

A building has been on the site since 1808 and was once a posting house. Said to have been erected by Trevor Corry (d.1838) agent to the Ross Estate and cousin of Isaac Corry, Chancellor of the Irish Exchequer.

Bradshaws directory states that 'Hon. And Very Rev. Dean of Down' (Edmund Knox) was occupant in 1819. Shown as the ‘Wood House’ on 1834 OS 6” map. The Ordnance Survey Memoirs of 1836 state that the property was built by Trevor Corry and that, 'It is the property of Mrs Fennell, Co Westmeath, and now let as a bathing lodge'. 1838 Valuation notes tenant (for three years) as William Darley Hall, and measurements given as 55ft x 33ft x 15ft. Substantial enlargement is evident by the 1859 map, and the dimensions in the 1863 valuation are 15ft x 78ft x two storeys. Known in late 19th c as Ramadges ( Mr Smith Ramadge was occupant in 1863).

Former noteworthy owners include Archbishop Gregg Primate of Armagh, Very Rev. R.S. O'Loughlin, Dean of Dromore, and Ivan Neill, Stormont Speaker during the O’Neill administration in the 1960s. The house was badly damaged by a terrorist firebomb in 1970 and lay derelict. The current occupants reconstructed much of the western end in the late 1970s.

Jupp mentions that it formerly had a walled garden.

Primary sources:
1. T. Bradshaw ' Directory of the Towns of Newry' (1819) p42.
2. PRONI - OS 6/3/54/1(1834 OS map) (Down sheet 54).
3. PRONI- VAL 1B/361, (1838 valuation) p.121.
4. PRONI- OS 6/3/54/2 (1859 OS map) (Down sheet 54).
5. PRONI- Val 2B/3/61A, (1863 valuation) p.46.
6. Owner (1998)

Secondary Sources:
1. B.Jupp 'Heritage Gardens Inventory of Northern Ireland' D/079 (QUB 1992).
2. A. Day 'Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland , Parishes of County Down 1 1836 South Down Vol 3' (QUB 1990).
3. (nd) Recollections of Old Newry p15.
4. W. Haughton Crowe 'Village in Seven Hills' pp.34-5 (Dundalk 1972).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

This is a fine attractive house of some architectural character and (transient) historical interest, set in a spectacular coastal location . It has however been substantially altered and reconstructed since a fire in the 1970s. Although retaining many features of interest, the degree of reconstruction and alteration, although sympathetic, precludes listing.