Former outbuildings at

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Yard to rear of Inn (HB16/07/005A) is enclosed to N, W and E by two storey outbuildings, now converted (c.1993) into residential accommodation. Yard is accessed from Rathfriland Road by a gateway between the rear return of the main block and the W range of outbuildings. It is paved with modern yellow and red bricks and has four tall modern lamp standards. To centre is a square shaped raised flower bed with roughly dressed granite block walling.

The outbuilding aligned W-E to N side of the yard has an oval 1825 datestone in a shallow decorative gable. Those to W and E sides of yard have 1993 datestones in similar gables. The blocks all link together at north. These three buildings retain few original features.

Roofs are pitched and natural slated, with painted cement rendered chimneys, smooth rendered walls with chamfered basecourse and two-stage eaves course supporting moulded metal gutters. All doors are modern framed and sheeted timber, with modern fittings. The windows are variously 3/3 and 2/2 sliding sashes.

W and E blocks each have a pair of semi-elliptical headed former doorways, now infilled with modern timber picture windows. The N block is symmetrical and has an arcade of three semi-elliptical arches, now infilled behind; two stout granite columns (each course made up of two semicircular blocks) support their ashlar voussoirs, with similar attached piers to left and right ends, and all springing from projecting imposts.

The W elevation of the W block fronts Rathfriland Road and is blank to ground floor. There are three semicircular windows to first floor, with a projecting platband below (this continues around south gable, and north elevation of N block). The N elevation of the N yard is symmetrical and fronts a rear car park. It has a shallow gable to centre of wall head, below which at first floor is a spoke headed 3/3 fixed window. Left section of this elevation has a 3/3 sash, semi-elliptical headed picture window and a 3/3 sash to ground floor and 3no. 3/3 sashes in line to first floor. Section to right of centre is identical. The E block abuts the rear of the former market house.

Historical information

Plans were drawn up for an inn at Hilltown around 1801 but never enacted (the design was redeployed at Banbridge). There is definitely no hotel or market house shown on a large-scale map of 1803.

According to Rankin, the inn dates from 1815 and was constructed by Robert Magill. It apparently collapsed in a storm and was rebuilt in 1818. At least one of the outbuildings (but probably all three) dates to 1825. They are all shown on the 1834 valuation map. The inn is cited in the 1835 valuation, and it was then occupied by Patrick Cowan. It is cited as a hotel in the c.1861 valuation, under Hugh Hall.

1985 HMBB slide of the north block of outbuildings shows its pitched roof to have two cast iron skylights to south pitch. Walls are of ashlar granite, with three steep decorative gables to yard. There is no datestone and the central gable is larger than the others and contains a loading door. The other two gables contain narrow vertically divided 2/2 sliding sashes, with cills resting on the crowns of the arcades below. To left of the arcade is a narrow pedestrian arch. No chimneys.

Primary Sources:
1. Plan of the [proposed] inn at Hilltown, c.1801 (PRONI: D 671/P7/2).
2. Map of Carquillan, 1803 (PRONI: D671/M1/21).
3. Valuation map, 1834 (PRONI: VAL 1D/3/10)
4. First valuation book, 1835 (PRONI: VAL 1B/354. P.29).
5. HMBB survey slide dated November 1984.

Secondary Sources:
1. P.J. Rankin, ‘Buildings of Hilltown and Rathfriland’ (Belfast 1978), p.20.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Modernisation has resulted in loss of much original detail and major alteration to the plan form and these buildings are no longer special enough to merit listing.