S of 16 Ardkeeragh Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Single storey /three bay early 20thC house on N side of Ardkeeragh Road. Principal elevation faces SW onto road.

Shallow hipped natural roof aligned W-E with over hanging eaves with exposed rafter tails. Red brick chimney to each end of roof ridge. Half round metal rainwater goods.

Walls are lined rendered with red brick base course (five courses) with matching stepped quoins and similar window dressings. Over each opening is a brick jack arch. All windows are 6/6 sliding sashes with horns and granite cills.

Central bay has a door to left and a window to its right. Two concrete steps rise up to the t+g sheeted door, which has a 3x3 paned glazed top section. Left and right bays each have a single a window.

Left gable is blank.

Rear elevation has a window to central and right bays. Left bay is almost completely abutted by a derelict flat roof extension. Extension has painted and rendered walls. Its right cheek is blank. Its rear face has, at left, a metal framed casement window with concrete cill, and is left cheek has a t+g sheeted door.

Right gable of house has a window to centre. A concrete plinth to S corner for barrel to catch rainwater (barrel gone).

Historical information

This house is first cited in the 1915 Valuation revision book. It was built by Newry Rural District Council. A similar but altered house is 23 Sheepbridge Road (on hillside overlooking Sheeptown Inn), Belfast Road.

Primary sources:
1. Valuation revision book, 1915 (PRONI VAL 12B/22/19E, p.76).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

V. Authorship
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Small attractive house that is a rare example, little-altered, of Council housing from the early years of public housing provision. Although modest in scale and design, the fact that it has survived without modernisation makes it of special interest.