Farmhouse adjacent to 14 Drumantine Hill Drumantine Newry Co. Down BT34 1TN

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

South facing, one and a half storey, three-bay, exposed stone dwelling house located to the north of Drumantine Hill and accessed directly via a long laneway. The dwelling is located in a wider complex evidence of which is shown on the 1st Edition OS map (1832).

Front, south facing elevation has natural slate pitched roof with flush verges, terracotta ridge tiles with 2no. reduced brick-built chimneys centrally located and equidistant on ridge line. Exposed, coursed rubble stone wall with corbelled brick course at eaves level and dressed stone quoins to all external corners. No evidence of rainwater goods. The elevation has three number equally spaced three over three, painted, sliding sash windows with crescent topped raised and painted plaster bands with equally placed painted quoins either side of all apertures. Panelled painted timber frames and door with glazed overlight to LHS of central window. Natural stone cills throughout.

Rear, north facing elevation has natural slate roof with metal framed centrally located roof light, below which is positioned, rear door opening, with panelled painted timber frame with single three over three, painted, sliding sash window with crescent topped raised and painted plaster band and with equally placed painted quoins either side.
Gable elevation to west has centrally positioned three over three painted sliding sash timber, window, directly above which is positioned six over six painted sliding sash window. East elevation has centrally positioned three over three painted sliding sash window, as described, at both ground and first floor levels.

Outbuilding to north of dwelling is a four bay low set single storey construction with natural slate pitched roof and lime washed rubble stone walls. Immediately to left of centre on front (north) elevation, vertically sheeted, painted double doors, with painted timber lintol above with two over two painted sliding sash (semi boarded) window beyond. To right of centre are positioned two timber framed vertically sheeted doors (LHS door with half door). Access to rear (South) elevation restricted due to extensive undergrowth – however outline of two square former window openings evident to RHS. East gable has high level, square, frameless, window aperture. West elevation blank. No evidence of rainwater goods or window cills. Interior has exposed timber roof structure with underside of slates exposed. Floor concrete finish with exposed limewash painted rubble walls.

Setting:
The
setting is defined by its location on elevated ground to the north of Drumantine Hill with commanding views of the surrounding countryside with access via the long laneway.
Roofing: Natural slate.
Walling: Exposed rubble stone with dressed quoins; lime washed rubble stone
Windows: Painted timber, sliding sash
RWG: none

Historical information

14 Drumantine Hill comprises a dwelling house which was rebuilt on the site of an earlier dwelling, c.1890 and an outbuilding which pre-dates the first edition OS map of 1834.

The first edition OS map of 1834 shows a dwelling house of vernacular proportions, and an outbuilding to the NW which has survived. An additional smaller structure shown on this map has not survived.

Griffith’s Valuation (1861) records the dwelling as the residence of James Jones, and values the house and outbuildings, which were leased from Arthur C Innes of nearby Drumantine House, at £2. The contemporary 2nd edition OS map (1860) shows that the dwelling house had been extended to the N by 1860 and also depicts a small orchard to the N of the house.

The dwelling was taken over by James McCullagh c1880 and a ‘new house’ is recorded in the valuation books in 1892, with a consequent rise in the valuation to £2.10s. The new house is depicted on the third edition OS map of 1903, and map evidence is consistent with this being a rebuild of the old dwelling, occupying part of its footprint but extending further to the W.

Farmer James McCullagh (60) was resident with his wife, Maggie at the time of the 1901 census, together with their seven children aged between three and 17. The house is recorded as having three windows to the front elevation, as today, and six rooms. Outbuildings include a stable, cow house, calf house, piggery and barn. By 1911 James had died and Margaret McCullagh continued to reside in the house with six of her children and her baby granddaughter.

Shortly after the 1911 census, the house was taken over by William Clarke, and then passed to his widow Sarah Jane Clarke who became the outright owner under the Land Purchase Acts in 1922. Valuer’s notes for the period 1936-57 have not survived but the valuation lists record Sarah Jane Clarke as the occupier. Sarah lived at Drumantine until her death in 1953. The 6-inch and large-scale historic maps show no significant changes to the plan of the site after the loss of an outbuilding to the NW between 1903 and 1918.

References:
Primary Sources:

1. PRONI OS/6/3/40/1 First edition Six Inch OS map (1834)
2. PRONI OS/6/3/40/2 Second edition Six Inch OS map (1860)
3. PRONI VAL/2/B/3/58A Griffith’s Valuation, Barony of Iveagh Upper, Upper Half (1861)
4. PRONI VAL/12/B/15/22A-F Annual Revisions Electoral Division of Glen (1864-1929)
5. PRONI OS/6/3/40/3 Third edition Six Inch OS map (1903)
6. PRONI OS/6/3/40/4 Fourth edition Six Inch OS map (1903-18)
7. Census of Ireland 1901 and 1911 online
8. PRONI VAL/3/C/4/29 First General Revaluation ED Glen (1936-1957)
9. PRONI Wills Calendars – Death of Sarah Jane Clarke, 26th July 1953
10. Large scale OS maps 1906, 1955, 1975 (https://shop.centremapslive.co.uk/)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

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

Criteria for listing: historic interest

R. Age
S. Authenticity
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

An enclosed vernacular farmyard complex containing a three-bay one and a half storey vernacular dwelling of developed vernacular type which though no longer in use retains its historic farmyard setting. The house is accessed via a long laneway which provides entry to the courtyard. The principal dwelling dating from 1890 retains a strong vernacular quality with survival of interior detail and plan form. The survival of the house and attendant outbuilding which predates the OS map of 1834 provide an insight into a way of life of farmers with small holdings in earlier times and of the distinctive vernacular house types and style of vernacular farmyard layout in rural Armagh. The complex is a good example of a relatively untouched vernacular complex with distinct and well proportioned and detailed stone dwelling in neat coursed local stone with margin paned double hung sliding sash windows and slated roof over. The attendant outbuildings retain their character. All positioned on an eminence to facilitate commanding views over the surrounding countryside.