50 Ballard Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Detached four-bay single storey direct entry vernacular house, pre-dating 1835 1st ed OS map; extended after c1850. The house is flanked by gable-fronted detached single storey pitched and barrel vaulted roofed out-buildings to east and west – initially added to the west circa 1871 with further additions added between 1907 and 1957. Both linked by rubble stone boundary wall with gated access to defined enclosed forecourt.

Principal dwelling has pitched natural slate roof with stone ridge tiles, cement raised verges to east and west gables, rubble stone gabled chimneys and centrally located remains of brick chimney. No rainwater goods. Limewashed render over rubblestone walling.

Principal elevation to north is four-bay with 3no square-headed window openings, stone sills with two over two sliding sash timber-framed windows. Projecting windbreak porch having natural slate roof with vertical timber sheeted door.

Rear, south elevation is partially retaining and has a single, centrally located two over two top hung metal framed window.

East elevation is blank and partially retained new concrete access to rear of site.

West elevation is not visible.

Single storey detached outbuilding to west with pitched natural slate roof, no rainwater goods. Front elevation faces east and is single bay; exposed rubble stone walling with centrally positioned three quarter length timber sheeted hinged door. Attached to right, small, barrel vaulted outbuilding with corrugated sheeting on roof and rubble stone gable wall forming boundary wall with Ballard Road.

Detached two bay single-storey barrel vaulted outbuilding to east, the northern gable forms boundary wall with Ballard Road. Corrugated sheeting to roof, no rainwater goods, with concrete blockwork to eaves course, exposed rubble stone walls. 2no. Single, metal sheeted doors to front, (west) elevation. East elevation is exposed rubble wall and is retaining concrete access road to farm sheds beyond.

Setting:
The complex is located immediately to the south of Ballard Road set within steeply rising ground. Low level rubblestone walls, flanked with barrel vaulted gables of outbuildings with pillared gate access define the forecourt enclosure.

Roofing: Natural slate, corrugated tin
Walling: Random rubblestone, render
Windows: Timber and metal frame
RWG : none

Historical information

The dwelling house at 50 Ballard Road largely predates the first edition OS map of 1835, but map evidence suggests it was extended by a bay c1885. A range of outbuildings was added to the west of the dwelling house c1871 and further outbuildings between 1907 and 1957.

The dwelling house is shown on the first and second edition OS maps of 1835 and 1860, the map outline on these editions being slightly shorter in length than the building is today. Due to its simple, vernacular character, the dwelling house did not reach the valuation threshold for inclusion in the Townland Valuation of the 1830s and therefore first enters valuation records in the Griffith’s Valuation of 1862. James Hanlon leased the dwelling, valued at 10s, from local landlord Joseph Nicholson. In 1871, the valuation was raised to £1. This rise is consistent with the addition to the site of two conjoined outbuildings to the right of the dwelling house, which first appear on the 3rd edition OS map (1906-7). This map edition also shows a possible extension in length to the dwelling house itself.

The house remained in the Hanlon family (also spelled OHanlon and O’Hanlon in later records) during the early 20th century censuses. In 1901 Irish speaking farmer Patrick OHanlon was resident with his five children ranging in age from 9 to 25 and his 7 year old granddaughter. Patrick’s two eldest daughters were working as ‘factory hands’. The census building return shows that the house was slated at this time and had three windows to the front elevation, as it does today. Outbuildings included a cow house, piggery, fowl house and barn. By 1911 Patrick’s eldest son John was married and lived in the house with his father and mother and his own children, his siblings having moved out.

John O’Hanlon is recorded as resident during the First General Revaluation in 1933 and was now the outright owner of the house and outbuildings. A plan is given for the single storey house which was of rubble masonry with a small porch to the front elevation, as it is today, the right-hand bays (26x15½x10 feet) being slated and the left hand bay (15x15½x10 feet) being roofed in felt at that time. The left-hand bay has since been slated to match the remainder of the roof. The interior accommodation consisted of a kitchen and two bedrooms.

A further lean-to outbuilding is shown running along the rear of the existing right-hand outbuilding by the 4th edition OS map (1956-7). This is shown more clearly on the large-scale map of 1957. The 1950s map edition also shows a linear outbuilding to the left of the dwelling house and these two buildings remain present on the site today.

References:

Primary Sources:

1. PRONI OS/6/2/28/1 First Edition Six Inch OS map (1835)
2. PRONI OS/6/2/28/2 Second Edition Six Inch OS map (1862)
3. Griffith’s Valuation (www.askaboutireland.ie)
4. PRONI VAL/12/B/15/6A-J (1866-1929) Annual Revision Lists, ED Camlough
5. PRONI VAL/12/B/15/18D (1909-1929) Annual Revision Lists, ED Latbriget
6. PRONI OS/6/2/28/3 Third Edition Six Inch OS map (1906-7)
7. PRONI VAL/3/C/2/14 (1935-1957) First General Revaluation, Rural District of Newry, Vol 3
8. PRONI VAL/3/D/2/6/V/1 (1933-57) Valuers RV Binder, ED Latbriget
9. PRONI OS/6/2/28/4 Fourth Edition Six Inch OS map (1956-7)
10. Large scale maps (https://shop.centremapslive.co.uk)
11. Census of Ireland (National Archives: Census of Ireland) (1901, 1911)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
D. Plan Form
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

R. Age
S. Authenticity
Z. Rarity
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A roadside vernacular farmyard complex containing a four bay single storey vernacular house of direct-entry type which though no longer in domestic use, retains its historic farmyard setting. The principal dwelling retains a strong vernacular quality with protruding windbreak, irregularly placed openings and pitched slated roof which likely replaced thatch. The surviving outbuildings to either side complement the dwelling and altogether form a pleasing complex further enriched by the local rubble stone wall, gate piers and paired gates delineating the complex. 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 vernacular house types in rural Armagh.

The principal dwelling house pre-dates 1835 with low level rubblestone walling to roadside, flanked with barrel vaulted gables of outbuildings and gate piers defining the forecourt enclosure. A good example of a relatively untouched vernacular complex on a roadside setting.