Tamnaharry House

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

1. House

Mid 19th C two storey/ three bay picturesque house set in mature grounds on E side of Derryleckagh Road. A recent extension to right gable has added a fourth bay (see later). To rear of house is a house yard, farmyard and walled garden. Also in grounds are the W lodge and gates (HB16/10/008A and B) and E lodge (HB16/10/010).

Front elevation faces SW. Left bay is narrower than central bay and right bay is set slightly back from and is wider than the central one. Pitched natural slate roof with each bay having a large picturesque gable. There are five pairs of chimneys aligned asymmetrically along the main ridge and sixth on rear return roof. Each pair of plain coped sandstone chimney stacks is angled on a coped granite plinth. All are rebuilds of the originals (see historical description). On the main ridge, the second and fourth chimneys are aligned parallel to façade and others are aligned perpendicular to it.

The three front gables and the gable to right end of main block all have overhanging eaves and delicate fretted and cusped timber barge boards. Metal rainwater down pipes.

Walls are constructed in snecked squared granite blockwork with chamfered granite base course. There are finely dressed stepped ashlar quoins to left corner of left bay, and the right corner of the central and right bays. Walls were previously rendered with hood moulds to openings (see historical description).

Right bay contains the main entrance, which is set within a single storey veranda constructed in ashlar granite. It has a granite threshold and its roof is supported on four pillars on chamfered bases with plain Classical capitals supporting a simple entablature with a quadrant curve to each end, a low balustrade over. The balustrade has a fretted lattice design and curves with entablature. Above each pillar the balustrade is supported on a panelled block. Veranda soffit is plainly plastered but ceiling is slightly lower over main entrance to centre.

To either end, where the veranda curves and meets the main wall is a pilaster, which matches the veranda pillars.
Wall at ground floor (within the veranda) is built in modern red brickwork. Main entrance is to centre. A modern uPVC door is set within an original finely dressed granite door case. Its architrave is plain with panelled block capitals and the plain lintel has attractive moulded ends. Originally there was porch abutting here (see historical description). To either side of the main entrance is a pair of 2x4 paned painted timber casement windows (in a common opening) with dressed granite cills. All windows are similar painted timber casements with chamfered red brick reveals, unless otherwise stated.

At first floor centre is a pair of French windows opening onto the veranda roof. Each door is 2x5 paned painted timber, with a pair of transoms over each. To its right is a 2x4 window, which is probably later as its brick reveal is different from the rest of the openings on the front elevation.

Central bay of front elevation steps out from the right bay and its narrow exposed right cheek is blank. Central bay is abutted at ground floor centre by a dressed granite bay window that has three full height windows to front and a single one on each side. All are 6/9 sliding sashes without horns except for the central one at front which contains a 2x4 paned glazed timber door with a single transom over. Bay window has a plain entablature (as one to veranda).

Above to first floor is a pair of 2x4 windows each with a two paned transom, all in a common opening. The left gable of the front elevation has a pair of 2x4 paned French windows with two paned transoms over each. To first floor is a window identical to that on first floor of central bay.

Turning left corner of main block to left (NW) elevation. This elevation is two gables wide, the left gable is the rear return, and its left roof pitch cat-slides to accommodate more of the rear return and is thus wider than the other bay. Both bays have fretted bargeboards, which are of a different (plainer) design to those on the front elevation.

There is a shallow single storey bay window to centre of right bay. Its pitched natural slate roof rises to first floor level and has a fretted barge board (detailed as others). Its front wall has a pair of 2x3 windows each with two paned transoms over (in common opening). At first floor, set to left is a 6/6 sliding sash window with horns.

The left bay has a similar but smaller bay window aligned with its gable apex and containing a pair of 4/4 sliding sashes. Set above to first floor is a pair of 2x4 casements. To ground floor of left bay (under the catslide roof) is a modern double glazed 3/6 top hung unit set in a horizontal opening with a concrete cill. Above it is 3/6 sash window.

Rear (NE) elevation of main block. Left bay has modern top hung timber casement with granite cill set to ground floor left. Set at a lower level at ground floor centre is small modern top hung casement window. To right between ground and first floor is a tall spoke-headed 6/6 margin-paned sash window with coloured margins. To first floor left is a pair of 2x4 windows in a common opening.

Centre bay advances forward slightly (its left cheek is blank) and is partially abutted to right side by the catslide roof of the rear return. To the exposed portion at ground floor left is a pair of 4/4 sliding sash windows in a common opening and to its right is a modern uPVC window. At first floor is a pair of 2x4 windows in a common opening.

The rear return is below the cat-slide roof of left gable of the left (NW) elevation. Walls are as main block, it is plain and its yard facing (SE) cheek contains a modern timber and glass door were it meets main block. The remainder of this cheek steps in slightly and is blank under a mono-pitched slate roof which slopes to NW. Its SE face is abutted to ground floor by lean-to with advancing gable porch. Lean-to has a mono-pitched natural slate roof with plain modern eaves. Its central porch advances and has a gabled bargeboard with modern door to front and modern 2x3 windows to each cheek. On wall to left of porch is a modern 2x4 window and on wall right of porch is a pair of 2x4 windows. The end (NE) wall of the return abuts an outbuilding that encloses the rear yard of the house. Its right (NW) elevation advances beyond the rest of the NW elevation. Its main (NW) wall has two window openings, the right is a 6/3 sash and the left is a similar opening containing a nine paned uPVC window. The ground falls away below the windows and the wall has a door at basement right and the rest of the wall is abutted by a boiler house (see later). Its exposed right (SW) cheek has a door at ground floor level and its gable has a decorative bargeboard (as rest to NW elevation). Back to main block.

Right (SE) gable of main block is slate hung and abutted by a lower modern one and half storey red brick (replacing an earlier structure). All windows are modern style timber casements unless otherwise stated. It has a pitched natural slate roof with two traditional style dormers to each pitch (bargeboards similar to those on main house). Its end (SE) gable has bargeboards as main block. Walls are modern red brick laid stretcher bond with a soldier course at window head level. All windows have granite cills. Its yard facing windows and door are uPVC.

House yard is enclosed to NW by the return, and is open to SE (wall removed). A large single storey outbuilding running parallel to main block encloses its NE side. It has a pitched natural slate roof with overhanging eaves and concrete skew with moulded kneelers to right gable (as viewed from yard) and a rendered chimney to left gable. Walls are constructed of an irregular mixture of rubble stone and red brick which are line rendered but have been exposed in places.

Yard-facing (SW) elevation is five bays wide – the first three bays are separated by single three staged rendered buttresses and each bay has a spoke headed metal framed C20th window. The fourth bay has a t+g sheeted door set in lean-to porch with a pitched concrete roof and the fifth bay is stripped of render and has an infilled doorway.

The right gable of the outbuilding is blank and has had its render stripped at the lower level.

Its rear (NE) elevation faces the farmyard and is in process of being refaced in rubble stone. It has a large modern brick dressed coachway and two windows (as those to front). The NW gable of the outbuilding is abutted by a much modernised two-storey L planned farm outbuilding.

2. Outbuildings

Farmyard outbuilding
This outbuilding is L-shaped in plan and of similar height to houseyard building described above with pitched natural slate roof. Although much altered with uPVC and metal-framed windows, it still retains much of its original character and has a coachway from farmyard to field on the NW. Its SW facing wall advances beyond the line of the main house and is abutted by the boiler house. It has a hipped natural slate roof and a massive masonry chimney, which abuts the outbuilding and rises to above its eaves level. It has a small 2/2 sash window and a door on its SW wall and a window on its NW cheek, its SE wall abuts the rear return of the house and its NE wall abuts the houseyard outbuilding.

Return block
The farmyard outbuilding is also abutted on its NW by a single story return block which has a pitched natural slate roof (hipped where it abuts) with louvred lantern to ridge and cement rendered chimney to end (NW) gable. The right end of its NE pitch cat-slides over a lean-to, which advances out beyond its end (NW) elevation. Walls as other buildings. The SW wall of the return block has a large sheeted timber carriage door at left, a door at centre and a modern door set higher (ground rises) at right. Over the central door is a small 6/6 window. Its end (NW) wall is blank and abutted by its lean-to. Its NE wall has a modern oil tank abutting. The lean to has a small 2/2 window on its NW (end) wall, and a similar window on its NE elevation. Its SW elevation is filled by a semi-elliptical headed coachway with t+g sheeted door.

Back to the farmyard. It is enclosed to SE by a high rubble stone wall with tall cylindrical dressed granite gate piers at its NE end.

The main drive of house runs from the gates and lodge on Derryleckagh Road (HB16/10/008) in a NE direction and runs along the SE side of the house, past the house yard and along the SE edge of the farmyard. It once continued E towards the E lodge (HB16/10/010).

Walled garden is set across driveway from the main house SE. Wall is in granite random rubble brought to courses and lined in red brick. Its SW facing boundary has a dwarf wall carrying tall wrought-iron railing with plain spiked finials.

Rubble stone grotto to NW of house contains statues of Mary and St Bernadette.

Historical information

In 1787 David McCann, a linen draper, obtained a lease of half of Tamnaharry townland where he built a substantial thatched house; this is described as measuring 25ft x 25ft 2x 13ft in the c.1835 valuation book. In 1828 he sold the estate to William Edward Reilly, Agent for the Marquis of Downshire. After his marriage, he rebuilt and enlarged the house around 1840 to designs by Thomas J. Duff of Newry. Reilly also had the grounds landscaped and employed Duff to design the E (HB16/10/010) and W (HB16/10/008) gate lodges in a similar style. The demesne is shown in its present form on the 1860 OS 6” map and is similarly described in the c.1861 valuation.

In 1847 Reilly's daughter married Charles Thomas Hamilton and was presented with the house as a wedding present. The Hamiltons remained in occupancy until the mid 1860s. The Cuppidges were then in residence until 1896 when a Dr Bradley assumed ownership until his death in 1906. His wife continued to use the house as her summer home until 1925 when she presented it to the Roman Catholic Church. Two years later it became the convent of the Dominican Sisters and the chapel was added. It was occupied by this order until the 1960s, after which it reverted to a private residence.

The HMBB first survey slide shows this building prior to the recent renovation. The chimneys are shown to have a bead mould at the top of each shaft, a feature now gone. Its walls are shown to be rendered and painted, with drip moulds over the window openings. A porch is shown between the central pillars of veranda, it has a pair of 2x4 paned casements to its front wall and a four panelled raised and fielded bolection moulded door (the main entrance) on its right cheek. The former extension to right gable was detailed as the house, and the gable above was rendered and painted and not slate hung. This extension is shown to have a flat felted roof, which drained to SE with modern plastic rainwater goods. Its front elevation has a door (as main entrance) at ground floor left a pair of 4/4 sliding sashes to its right and to extreme right a pair of windows as those to the front porch. There are three similar windows to first floor.

Primary Sources:
1. PRONI First valuation (c.1835), VAL 1B/353, p.70.
2. PRONI OS map, 2nd edition (1860), Co Down sheet 51.
3. PRONI Second valuation (c.1861), VAL 2B/3/57A, p.30.
4. HMBB first survey slide taken 12/12/1972.
5. HMBB first survey card dated 12/12/1972.

Secondary Sources:
1. J.A.K. Dean, ‘The Gate Lodges of Ulster- A Gazetteer’ (Belfast 1994), p.97.
2. Rev. B. Treanor, ‘Tamnaharry House’, article in the Irish News, March 1960.
3. ‘The Story of a Mansion House, Warrenpoint Historical Group Magazine, 1973.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
H-. Alterations detracting from building
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

V. Authorship
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

This attractive picturesque mid 19thC house by Thomas Duff retains most of its original fabric and has some fine internal detailing and plasterwork. The loss of the external render and the hood moulds is reversible and does not greatly distract from the overall quality of the house. Its yards, walled garden, N and S lodges and gates (HB16/10/008A and B & /010) contribute to its group value.