Former Gas Works

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Situated near the bottom of the hill on the SE side of the town. The actual retort house in which the coal gas was made, and the associated chimneys have been demolished. Only the manager’s house, a ruinous outbuilding and traces of the gasholder pit survive.

The manager's house is at the SE corner of the site, at left on entry from street. A one storey house with hipped natural slate roof and tiny cast-iron skylight to front pitch. Smooth cement-rendered coped chimney to each end of ridge. Overhanging eaves have exposed rafter tails. Half-round metal gutters (missing to rear). Random rubble walls with cement wash over on all elevations except rear (see later). Advanced base course to front and rear elevations. Corners raised in painted render.

The principal elevation faces N into yard. It is four opening wide, the left one may be a later addition. At left is a smaller 1/2 top-hung casement set within a former doorway. The remaining three openings are grouped together. Thecentral one is the entrance and comprises a four-panel painted timber door with a rectangular margin-paned transom over. It is flanked to each side by a 6/6 sliding sash window (no horns). All openings have painted smooth render architraves; the windows also have painted stone cills.

The left gable is abutted at left by a small lean-to timber shed. To its right is a 6/6 sash window detailed as front elevation.

The rear elevation is cement lined rendered blank except for a 1/1 sash at extreme left and a small modern top-hung window to its right. The yard wall, here wet dashed, continues to left.

The right elevation is abutted by a lower one-storey lean-to, which also abuts the yard wall. It has a tarred slate roof and smooth cement rendered walls. Two doors and two windows to yard elevation and one window to exposed gable. Rear wall blank.

At the NW corner of the yard are the ruinous remains of a random rubble building with pitched natural slate roof (mostly gone). Appears to have been originally open to its yard elevation but subsequently infilled with rendered concrete blocks. Possibly once a dry coal store.

The yard retains a small metal weighbridge and traces of the dressed granite curb of the gasholder pit. The latter has been infilled and partly built over with corrugated-metal buildings, which form the west perimeter of the yard.

Granite-coped painted random rubble wall to street. Sliding metal vehicle gate between two large painted masonry pillars. Pedestrian gate through wall to its right has a t + g sheeted door.

Historical information

Established in 1855 by J.M. McClenehan of the Rathfriland Gas Light Company Ltd. First appears on 1859 OS 6” map. Contained three horizontal retorts for the manufacture of gas from coal. Valuation book entry of 1928 notes site vacated by the company. This indicates it ceased to work then or shortly before. All traces of the retort house, in which the coal gas was made, and associated chimney along the S boundary of the site have been cleared.

Of local interest. Its location at the lowest part of the town is significant as it minimised the need to pump the gas to consumers (coal gas rises, as it is lighter than air).

Primary sources:
1. “The Outlook” (local paper) 30/03/1973.
2. OS 6" map, 2nd edition (1859) Co Down sheet 41 (PRONI OS 6/3/41/2)
3. PRONI Valuation revision book, VAL12B/22/22A, p.25 (entry 16ba).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Vestige of former provincial gasworks which supplied Rathfriland with street lighting etc. The house is not of special architectural or historic interest.