Clooneavin

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Single storey/ three bay house over basement, on an elevated site within extensive mature grounds which also include walled garden, ice house and farmyard.

House is U-planned with the base of the U facing S. Hipped natural slate roof with three chimneys (each rendered, corbelled and with three octagonal terracotta pots). There are two on the W ridge and one on the E ridge. Moulded stucco eaves to S elevation and slightly advanced plain eaves to rest. Half-round metal gutters flow to downpipes on E and W elevations. Walls are lined cement render and unpainted.

Front elevation is three bays wide. Left and right bays are semicircular projections with semi-conical natural slate roofs (sharing same eaves) and tied into main roof. Each bow bay contains three curved windows: the front one is tripartite with a central 6/6 sash flanked by 2/2 sashes (all with horns). The side windows each contain 6/6 sashes (no horns). All have concrete cills. The central bay contains the main entrance, which is protected within an open tressled canopy between the cheeks of each end bay. This canopy is constructed in iron with a shallow swept lead roof. It is three openings wide, all framed by tressled posts with decorative heads and fanned brackets under a tressled frieze. Eaves have decorative crested ironwork. Floor under canopy has a moulded ashlar granite step and black and red terracotta tiles. The central opening to the front door has a slightly higher step with nosed ends from which rise three moulded granite steps with iron balusters and swept timber handrail.

The door comprises a pair of three-panelled stained timber reproduction timber door with brass knobs, flanked by full height sidelights with reproduction leaded glazing. Over all is a shallow segmental-headed fanlight with thin radial glazing. Over is an electric light in a metal lantern affixed to the wall.

Left (W) elevation is three bays wide, each with a window. The left bay is abutted to left corner by an extension (see later). Window to left bay is post war steel-framed 4/4 top hung casement window with glazed aluminium door at right. That to centre bay is tripartite with a central 6/6 sash flanked by narrower 4/4 sashes (all with horns). That to right bay is 6/6 sash window (no horns).

The small single storey extension has a hipped natural slate roof aligned W-E. Small cylindrical ridge ventilator. Projecting eaves carry half-round metal rainwater goods. Party lined cement rendered walls. Its S elevation has two 6/6 sash windows (no horns). Its W elevation has a 6/3 sash window to left (no horns). Its N elevation has two steel-framed casement windows at middle and a 1/1 top hung timber window at left. Its E cheek abuts the W elevation of the house at left and has a modern door at left.

The N elevation has a recessed central yard with returns to left and right. Each return and the interior of the yard have assorted flat roofed post-war extensions, all with steel-framed windows. The end wall on left return is abutted by a slightly lower hipped roof return with a blank N wall and a 6/6 sash window (no horns) on its E wall. Modern flat-roofed boiler house extension to end of right bay.

The E elevation of the main house is four bays wide. Each bay contains a 6/6 sash window (no horns). Below the fourth bay from left is a modern louvred door into the basement, accessed by external concrete steps.

Setting

The front boundary is a rendered wall with gate piers in a curved screen at W end. Wrought iron gates. To W on entry is a small gate lodge which has been much altered and retains no features of interest. The gravel driveway runs north and is tree lined to the W side. It then branches E to front of house and continues N to farmyard with a second E branch to rear of house.

The garden to front of the house slopes S and has mature shrub beds. Between it and the road is a paddock enclosed by a modern timber fence and once part of the garden. The garden to E of the house is maturely planted and has numerous paved terraces and a small pond.

To the immediate N of the house is a single storey post-war garage block with shallow monopitched felted roof. Rendered blockwork walls and three up-and-over garage doors. To the immediate NW of this garage is an icehouse. Enclosing the N side of the grounds is a paddock with walled garden to E and farmyard to W.

Ice house

This subterranean chamber is accessed by a flight of steps down to a short passage on N side. Its brick segmental vaulted roof has collapsed. The passage continues right through two former doorways into the main chamber which is of rectangular plan with stone lined walls and shallow brick vaulted ceiling. Small ventilation opening to centre.

Walled garden

Walled garden to the NE of the main house has unrendered random rubble stone walls. The site slopes eastwards. It is accessed by a wrought-iron loop-headed gate with smooth rendered architrave at the left end of the S wall. To inside of the N wall is a rubble stone outbuilding with natural slate lean-to roof abutted to front by modern lean-to sheds. Garden contains numerous vegetable plots and pens for hens. Abutting the external SW corner of the walled garden is a small lean-to with natural slate roof and walls of rubble stone with brick dressings to openings.

Farmyard

This rectangular farmyard is to NW of the main house and aligned N-S. It is enclosed by outbuildings on all four sides, although those to W belong to the farmyard of neighbouring Moygannon House (HB16/12/011A). Between the main driveway and the lane up the E outside of the farmyard are modern metal gates supported on a pair of whitewashed (square in section) one-piece granite posts with pyramidal heads. The right post also supports a small wrought-iron pedestrian gate which closes against a small rendered and painted rubble stone wall.

The farmyard is in two parts, a smaller yard to N end being roughly square. The main yard is entered through a gateway to centre of E elevation. The two gates are of wrought-iron with pointed bars and dog-bars, supported on massive posts. That to the right is rendered and whitewashed rubble stone with concrete pyramidal coping. That to the left is similar but has been rebuilt in concrete and has no coping. Boundary walls of whitewashed rubble stone.

All the outbuildings are similarly detailed with natural slate roofs, advanced eaves courses carrying half-round metal rainwater goods and whitewashed rubble stone walls. The principal elevations of all outbuildings face into the courtyard.

On the E side there are two outbuildings - one on either side of the entrance gates. The S outbuilding is a single storey lean-to with various openings. That to its N gable is a pair of t+g sheeted doors with timber lintel. Its yard facing (W) wall has five openings, from left: (1) a 2/2 timber sliding sash window (no horns) and slate cill; (2) a t+g bead moulded door; (3) a sash window (as before); (4) and (5) are two large openings with modern metal mesh gates. S gable is abutted by a lower lean-to, its exposed section being rendered and blank. The lean-to has roof and walls as this block. To the left-end of its yard facing (W) wall is a four-panelled door with timber architrave. External (E) elevation is blank.

The outbuilding to the N end of the E side of the yard is a single storey/ three bay lean-to. It has two rendered chimneystacks with terracotta pots on its ridge and a metal skylight on its W pitch. Its S gable and E wall are blank. Its yard facing (W) elevation has a t+g sheeted door on left and middle bay. Its right bay has a 4/8 sliding sash exposed box window and a t+g sheeted door.

The outbuilding enclosing the S side of the farmyard is a one and half storey stable block four bays wide with a hipped natural slate roof. All bays have single doorways at ground floor. Thatto fourth bay has a segmental head and is infilled. At first floor the left bay has a metal 2x3 casement window at loft level with ventilation slot to its right. Second bay also has a similar slit. The third bay has a t+g sheeted loading door. The fourth bay is a 2x2 metal casement window. The E gable is blank. The S (external) elevation is blank with ventilation slots to loft level. The W gable abuts a random granite rubble wall which encloses the W side of the farmyard.

The wall enclosing the W side is abutted (roughly to centre) by an open lean-to with corrugated metal roof supported on six plain timber posts. The N side of this wall is the wall of a barn in the adjacent farmyard (HB16/12/011A). It extends as a small barn which meets left gable of block along N side of yard.

N end of the yard is enclosed by a two-storey/ three bay carriage house and labourer’s dwelling. All share a pitched roof which cat slides over advanced centre bay. Metal skylight to S pitch of left bay. Rendered and corbelled chimneystack (with moulded pot as house) on party wall between middle and right bays. The central and left bays are the carriage house. Left bay has a doorway to left and a 9/4 exposed box sliding sash window to its right. Aligned above the latter is a shuttered opening to first floor. The advanced centre has blank left and right cheeks. Its front (S) cheek has a pair of t+g doors with square louvred panel to tops. Right bay is the façade of the labourer’s house and has a t+g bead moulded door to the right. To its left is a pair of 2x3 timber side-hung casement windows in a common opening and with a rendered granite cill. Aligned above the latter is an exposed box window frame.

The left gable of this block abuts the W wall of this yard.

Rear (N) elevation fronts the smaller N yard and has a small 2/2 window with brick dressings to each floor of left bay (house). There is a shuttered opening to ground floor central bay. Ventilation slats to the loft of central and right bays. To right end is a segmental-headed niche, enclosed to yard by a bowed stone wall forming an animal pen.

The (E) gable is blank and abutted by a small lean-to at right end. Its front (S) gable has a window opening with timber cill. The N and E sides are blank.

The smaller yard to the rear (N) of the main farmyard is accessed through a segmental-headed brick arch at the left end of its E wall. Its is detailed as the previous yard (but walls unpainted). Its S side is enclosed by the N block of the main yard. Its W side is enclosed by the stone boundary wall with the adjacent property. Its N boundary is enclosed by a single storey/ four bay rubble stone outbuilding with lean-to natural slate roof. Each bay has a doorway and animal pen to front. The E boundary is a blank rubble stone wall. Ghost of previous lean-to on inside face.

Historical information

Shown as ‘Richmond’, along with the farmyard and cruciform gate lodge, on the 1834 OS 6” map. Cited as ‘Clooneavin’ on 1859 OS map. Described in the 1835 First valuation book as being occupied by Mrs Brownlow and measuring 60ft x 42ft6in x 12ft6in, with two wings, each 17ft6in x 19ft6in x 12ft6in, and with basements to all. Also an 18ft x 10ft x 9ft return. Described in the 1861 Valuation as “Very nice villa with good basement and beautiful view from front”, and the match of Moygannon House (HB16/12/011A), built (according to the First Valuation book) by Mr Moore of Arno’s Vale in 1810. The northern extension to the farmyard is first shown on the 1901-02 OS map, indicating a later 19th C construction.

The plan form of this house and Moygannon (HB16/12/011A) are believed to be unique to this area. A very similar property built at around the same time is Templegowran (HB16/10/018) located to NE of Newry.

Primary sources
1. OS 6” map, 1834 Co Down sheet 54 (PRONI: OS 6/3/54/1).
2. First Valuation book, 1835 (PRONI: VAL 1B/ 361, pp 141-2).
3. OS 6” maps, 1859 Co Down sheet 54 (PRONI: OS 6/3/54/2).
4. Second Valuation book, 1861 (PRONI: VAL 2B/3/61B, p.66).
5. OS 6” maps, 1901-02 Co Down sheet 54 (PRONI: OS 6/3/54/3).

Secondary sources.
1. HMBB first survey card 23 June 1972.
2. HHBB first survey slide.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
H-. Alterations detracting from building
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

An attractive early 19thC house set within mature grounds, facing the sea. It retains much of its original character. Grounds contain unaltered walled garden, farmyard and ice house. This house, with Moygannon House, have a unique local identity.