Stable block and attached former mill

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

To SE of Killevey Castle is the farmyard arranged in a rectangular plan around a central yard. It is set on the slope of the demesne and is reached from the garden to front of the castle by a well defined path bounded by a stone retaining wall to one side and a low stone plinth wall to the other. The farmyard to the E is accessed by a lane to the N of the main driveway. It is accessed by a pair of wrought-iron loop-headed gates supported on rubble stone gate piers with stone copings. Immediately to the S the stable yard is accessed off the main driveway by a pair of wrought-iron gates supported on dressed rubble stone square gate piers. To W is a similar rubble stone boundary wall containing a drinking trough with continuously flowing water set within a semi-circular headed lime-rendered niche. To SE is a walled garden.

Farmyard (See HB16/13/001C for farm buildings) comprises (1) the stable block with two rear returns to the SW corner of the farmyard, (2) a split level outbuilding (former corn mill and waterwheel pit) to the W, (3) a barn to the N, (4) Animal houses to the E and (5) a boiler house to the SE corner. To W of farmyard is a small store (6). (see attached map)

The farmyard is accessed by a semi-elliptical archway with finely dressed granite voussoirs. Its right side abuts the W face of the boiler house; its left side abuts the remains of a ruinous outbuilding.

(1) Stable block

Two-storey, three bay stable block with pitched natural slate roof. Advanced brick eaves course (no rainwater goods). To left gable is a granite bellcote. Walls are whitewashed and lime-rendered over rubble stone with brick dressings. All window openings are boarded and have granite cills, unless otherwise stated.

Principal elevation faces S. Central section projects slightly and is gabled. To centre is a large pair of t+g sheeted doors with wrought-iron strap hinges and a timber lintel surmounted by a flat brick arch. Above is a landscape window opening (without cill) set within a slightly recessed semi-circular headed arch. Above to apex is a blind roundel. Left and right bays are mirror image. That to left has a t+g sheeted door with transom set to right, to its left is a window opening. To first floor centre is a window opening with head at eaves level.

Left gable has a t+g loading door to first floor accessed by a metal walkway leading an outbuilding on a raised bank (see later). Right gable of stable has been raised and crenellated, and has a single window opening to centre. Rear elevation is completely abutted by two mono-pitched returns. Both have natural slate roofs and rubble stone walls.

Rear right return is whitewashed and lime rendered. Principal (N) face has an infilled door opening set to left of centre and a window opening to its left. Right cheek is blank; left cheek abuts left return.

Rear left return is taller (roof rises to eaves level of main block) and projects further. Walls are un-rendered rubble stone. Principal (N) face is abutted to left end by the split-level outbuilding (former corn mill) (see later). The exposed section has a single metal-framed 2x4 side-hung casement. Right cheek is abutted by the right rear return and the exposed section is blank. Due to the topography the left-cheek and E face is three storeys; it has also been raised and crenellated. It has an infilled door opening to ground floor and has a single 2/2 timber fixed pane window to second floor centre.

(2) Outbuilding (former corn mill and waterwheel pit)

The W end of the farmyard is enclosed by a large outbuilding - its southern gable abuts the right return of the stable block. Its W face is single-storey and its E face is three-storey. It has a pitched corrugated asbestos cement roof and un-rendered rubble stone walls. All window openings have granite cills, except those to second floor.
Yard (E) facing elevation has a window opening to centre flanked by a door opening to either end of ground floor. Blocked-up door opening to far left and far right is abutted at right-angles by the barn (3). First floor has three window openings (that to centre is smaller). Second floor has two window openings with heads at eaves level.
South gable abuts rear return of the stable block.
W elevation is abutted to left by the waterwheel pit housing, exposed section is obscured by vegetation. The waterwheel pit housing is roofless and the waterwheel is not present.
North gable is abutted by a large ruinous and roofless lean-to.

(6) Store to west

To W of the stable block, is a small store on a raised bank. It has a pitched natural slate roof and lime-rendered rubble stone walls. W (gable) elevation has a timber sheeted door to left and a single window opening to right (no window present). N elevation has an infilled door opening to the left. E (gable) elevation has a fixed-pane with metal lattice frame window to right and an infilled door opening to left. S elevation has an infilled window opening to right.

Historical information

The original house around which the present was created, ‘Killevy Lodge’ (HB16/13/001A) was built by Meredith Foxall sometime before 1816, possibly -given the dates of many of the Foxall leases for the surrounding lands- in or around 1813. It was transformed into the present building in 1836 for Mr Powell Foxall, a Newry banker, to designs by George Papworth, a Dublin architect. It was during this time that the farm buildings, including the stable block, were added to the Foxall demesne. This work was completed the following year and it was henceforth known as Killevy Castle.
In 1852 the castle was offered for sale by auction and the sale particulars state that “The out-offices are on a corresponding scale and of real utility and convenience”.
The Second edition OS map of 1861 shows a large pond to the north of the farm buildings and a water channel flowing eastwards just beyond its north east corner. These features are not depicted on the First edition OS map of 1835. This suggests the utilisation of water power somewhere within the farmyard and therefore that a waterwheel had been installed sometime between 1835 and 1861. The first explicit mention of a mill at the site is in the valuation revision book entry of 1868 which records a 'corn mill & stores' belonging to William Gillespie. He had taken over the estate from John Foxall around that time, but appears to have just used the outbuildings as the castle is noted as vacant.
Although the mill is not cited until 1868, it was probably in use before this date. That it is explicitly mentioned when it was is probably due to the fact that the buildings within the estate were now listed separately for valuation purposes as some were no longer used.
Ownership of the estate passed to the Bell family around 1879 and the castle is still apparently known locally as Bell's Castle. However, the corn mill and stores are described as 'part down' in the 1884 valuation entry and as 'dilapidated' in 1890. The corn mill and stores do not appear to have been used for their original purpose thereafter.
The Third edition OS map of 1907 shows a similar footprint configuration for the castle and farmyard as the Second edition OS map of 1861, indicating no further major alterations to the buildings. The pond had, however, been made considerably narrower and a substantial retaining bank constructed along its east side. The fact that the corn mill was no longer used suggests that the pond was remodelled for aesthetic rather than functional reasons.
No major changes have been made to the building's footprints since the Third edition OS map.
Currently the stable block, former corn mill and stores are vacant. The waterwheel pit is roofless and the waterwheel is not present.

Primary Sources
1. First edition OS 6" map, Co Armagh sheet 29, 1835.
2. Second edition OS 6” map Co. Armagh sheet 29, 1861.
3. First Valuation book, c.1836 (PRONI - VAL 1B/244B, p.277).

Secondary Sources
1. C.E.B. Brett, 1999, Buildings of County Armagh, p.103 (Belfast: UAHS).
2. F. Hamond, 2014, Reinstatement of a Waterwheel at the Former Corn Mill, Hilleary Castle, Meigh, Co Armagh

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A two-storey three bay stable block with attached three-storey former corn mill to rear constructed c.1836 for Mr Powell Foxall to designs by George Papworth. This is part of a complex of farm buildings set on the E slope of Killevy Castle demesne. The stable block is the most notable building, with its granite bellcote and castellated right gable. This is a well preserved two storey stable block whose completeness makes it somewhat rare. The adjoining former corn mill is also of interest. Although the waterwheel is gone, the waterwheel pit and mill survives and is an important remnant of industrial activity on the estate. The stable block and attached former corn mill have group value with Killevy Castle (HB16/13/001A). They are of interest as part of the Killevy demesne reflecting its development.