12 Ballintemple Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A symmetrical single-storey three-bay corrugated metal vernacular house, located on the south side of Ballintemple Road, Co. Armagh. Rectangular plan with projecting porch and lobby-entry plan form.

Pitched corrugated metal roof with central roughcast rendered chimneystack, cast-iron rainwater goods and timber eaves board. Corrugated metal walling on a concrete plinth. Windows are vestigial 2/2 timber sliding sashes with horns, on timber cills.

Principal elevation faces north-east and is symmetrically arranged with a single window to either side of a projecting porch, detailed as house with flat concrete roof. The door is detached (on the ground nearby), and is timber sheeted, ledged and braced.

Gables are blank, that to south-east having remains of a lean-to store.

Rear elevation has three window openings.

Setting: Located in a picturesque rural
setting, in open pastureland and surrounded by a rudimentary barbed wire fence on two sides. Accessed via a farm track with small bridge traversing a stream, off the Ballintemple Road.

Roof: Corrugated metal
RWG: Cast iron
Walling: Corrugated metal
Windows: Timber

Historical information

Built c.1930 the house is first shown on the sixth edition OS map (1955-56) and was reputedly built by Toners, using funds sent by a nun from America (HB File). A previous farm house and outbuildings were located within the same plot of land to the south-west, and were occupied by a James and Margaret Murphy, with a rateable value of £2 in the Annual Revision records (1900-1911). This was decreased to £0 10s in 1920 as the valuer noted that the offices were ‘down’ and the house was dilapidated. Although there is no clear evidence in the subsequent Annual Revisions (1930-35), the value was increased to £1, which indicates that the earlier house to the south-west was likely replaced by the present house of corrugated-iron construction. The rateable value remained unchanged in the Annual Revisions of the First General Revaluations (1936-56) but the house became occupied by Paul and Lewis Murphy, c.1954.

Owing to its flexibility, economy and ease of transportation and assembly, the use of prefabricated corrugated-iron rose in popularity during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Finding particular favour in rural areas, it was a cost-effective means of providing new public buildings such as halls and churches, or new dwellings. Such examples of the use of corrugated-iron in the construction of domestic dwellings are becoming increasingly rare.

References

Primary Sources
1. PRONI OS/6/2/25/3-5 Third, Fourth and Fifth Edition OS maps (1906)
2. PRONI OS/6/2/25/6 Sixth Edition OS map (1955-56)
3. PRONI VAL/2/B/2/13 Griffiths Valuation (1862)
4. PRONI VAL/12/D/2/25J-K Annual Revision Maps (c.1919-c.1935)
5. PRONI VAL/12/B/15/2A-D Annual Revisions (1865-1929)
6. PRONI VAL/12/F/2/6/1 Annual Revisions (1930-35)
7. PRONI VAL/3/A/2/25 First General Revaluation Map (1933-56)
8. PRONI VAL/3/C/2/12 Annual Revisions of First General Revaluation (1936-56)
9. HB File (HB16/20/031)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
F. Structural System
G. Innovatory Qualities
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest
Z. Rarity
R. Age
S. Authenticity
T. Historic Importance

Evaluation

Modest single-storey early twentieth-century vernacular dwelling constructed of corrugated tin. Featuring a projecting porch and lobby entry plan form the house retains its original character externally and internally, with many traditional vernacular details including timber partition walling, braced doors, lime wash, wainscoting and built in features. Reported to have been built for a local family using funds sent from America, although abandoned and derelict, it is a good example of a timber frame vernacular dwelling and a relatively rare survivor. Located in its original unspoilt rural setting it is of significant interest.

General comments

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