50 Annaghmare Road Crossmaglen BT35 9BG

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Two storey, three-bay lobby-entry style vernacular dwelling house with pitched slated roofed projecting entrance porch to north. Evidence of dwelling shown on 1st Edition OS map (1832) with current layout present on 3rd Edition OS map (1900-1907). The house is located to the south of a rising concrete yard with single storey outbuildings arranged to either side. The complex is accessed from Lough Road to the north via long winding ascending laneway.

Main dwelling has natural slate pitched roof with flush verges, terracotta ridge tiles with brick-built chimneys to gables and third centrally located on ridge line. Pitched natural slate roof to projecting porch with terracotta ridge tiles, and remnants of painted timber bargeboard to gabled entrance. Walls are lime rendered local rubblestone. No evidence of rainwater goods. Vertically aligned pair of square headed window openings, either side of porch with painted stone sills. Windows are six over six single-glazed timber sliding sash with exposed box sashes. Porch entrance door timber frame with painted stone head and vertical timber sheeting

South elevation of the principal dwelling is partially retaining with 1no square-headed window opening at first floor level with remains of six over six sliding sash timber window frame to right hand side of central chimney. Immediately beneath is located the remains of square headed window opening infilled with concrete blockwork.

Gable elevation to west has remains of a two over two sliding sash window to left at first floor level. Gable elevation to east is blank.
Outbuilding 1 to left hand side facing north has three bay low set single storey construction with pitched corrugated tin cladding to roof, concrete dash rendered walls with two vertically sheet doors to right hand side, augmented with large garage size opening to left. Outbuilding 2 (directly opposite) has three bay low set single storey construction with right hand side having a higher pitched corrugated tin cladding to roof with raised concrete verges and open fronted. Portion to the left recessed with lower pitch with two vertically sheeted painted timber doors. Concrete dash rendered walls to front. Rear (east) elevation has centrally located door opening with exposed rubblestone walling. Rubble stone remnants of building to north and orientated perpendicular to building defines and enclosed the gated access into concrete forecourt of dwelling.

Setting:
Located to the south of Lough Road, accessed via long winding ascending laneway, the vernacular complex containing two storey hearth-lobby dwelling is approached through a gated yard enclosure defined by outbuildings of which are arranged to either side of the principal dwelling. A good intact example of a lobby entry developed vernacular dwelling and attendant courtyard on an elevated site approached through a commodious courtyard and long winding lane.
.
Roofing: Natural slate, corrugated tin
Walling: Limestone render/rubblestone/concrete pebble dash.
Windows: Timber, sliding sash
RWG: none

Historical information

The current dwelling house was built together with outbuildings to the front, c1885, between the 2nd edition map of 1861 and the 3rd edition of 1906-7. However, the original dwelling house on the site pre-dated the first edition of 1834-5 and an outbuilding to the N of the current dwelling appears to occupy part of the footprint of the earlier dwelling. This may be a rebuild, but it is possible that the structure contains some fabric of the earlier house.

The first and second editions show only the earlier dwelling, while the 3rd edition (1906-7) shows the farmyard as it appears today, with the current dwelling house to the SE, outbuildings forming an L-shape to the N of the house and a further outbuilding to the NW. The buildings form an enclosed farmyard approached by means of a laneway to the NW.

The earlier dwelling house and outbuildings are listed in Griffith’s Valuation (1862) as the residence of Patrick Quinn (senior). The buildings were leased from local landlord Thomas P Ball and valued at 15s. Although the two-storey dwelling house and additional outbuildings were added to the site c1885, there is no change in the valuation through the period of Annual Revisions (1864-1929).
John Quinn senior was resident at the time of the 1901 census. He was a 54-year-old farmer who lived with his wife, his two unmarried sisters and his three adult children. The building return records the house as slated and having four rooms, while the outbuildings are a stable, a coach house, a cow house, a calf house, a fowl house and a barn.

At the time of the First General Revaluation of 1934, the house had passed to John Quinn’s son Patrick who was the outright owner under the Land Acts. Accommodation in the house consisted of a kitchen and reception downstairs, with two bedrooms upstairs. The house was said to be in ‘medium repair’ and dimensions are given for a two-storey house of 32x17½ feet.

The Quinn family remained resident throughout the period of valuation records until at least 1957. Large-scale maps of 1907, 1956 and 1984 show that the farmyard remains today largely as it was in 1907. However, two of the outbuildings on the northern side of the farmyard have become ruinous/roofless since 1956/1984.

References:

Primary Sources:

1. PRONI OS/6/2/27/1 First Edition Six Inch OS map (1834-5)
2. PRONI OS/6/2/27/2 Second Edition Six Inch OS map (1861)
3. PRONI VAL/2/B/2/14B Parish Creggan, Annaghmare Townland (1862)
4. PRONI VAL/12/B/12/4A-D Annual Revisions ED Cullyhanna (1864-1923)
5. PRONI VAL/12/B/12/7A Annual Revisions ED Creggan (1924-1929)
6. PRONI OS/6/2/27/3 Third Edition Six Inch OS map (1906-7)
7. Census of Ireland, 1901/1911
8. PRONI VAL/3/C/2/12 First General Revaluation ED Creggan (1933-57)
9. PRONI VAL/3/D/2/6H/1 First General Revaluation Valuer’s Binder (1933-57)
10. PRONI OS/6/2/27/4 Fourth Edition Six Inch OS map (1956)
11. Large-scale OS maps (1907, 1956, 1984) (https://shop.centremapslive.co.uk/)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

R. Age
S. Authenticity
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

An enclosed vernacular farmyard complex containing a three bay two storey vernacular dwelling of hearth- lobby entry type which though no longer in use retains its historic farmyard setting. The house is accessed through a narrow gateway which provides access to the courtyard complex which is in turn accessed via a long laneway from Lough Road. The principal dwelling retains a strong vernacular quality with protruding porch, irregularly placed openings with pitched slated roof over. The survival of house, walling and attendant outbuildings provide an insight into the way of life of farmers with small holdings in earlier times and of the distinctive vernacular house types and styles of vernacular farmyard layouts in rural Armagh. The complex is a good example to a relatively untouched vernacular complex with distinct and well proportioned principal dwelling with attendant outbuildings all positionsed on an eminence to facilitate commanding views over the surrounding countryside.