156 Ballygowan Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A symmetrical three-bay two-storey detached farmhouse predating 1834 and located south of the Ballygowan Road north of Loughbrickland. L-shaped on plan with two-storey rear return having modern conservatory to re-entrant angle and single-storey flat-roof extension to southwest.

Pitched natural slate roof with blue/black angled ridge tiles, masonry verges and rendered chimneystacks having terracotta pots. Cast-iron half-round rainwater goods on drive-in brackets. Walling is pebble-dash with cement rendered quoins and plinth. Windows are 3/6 timber sliding sash to first floor and 6/6 timber sliding sash to ground floor in rendered reveals with slightly projecting sills.

The principal elevation faces northeast and is three openings wide to each floor. To centre at ground floor is a six raised-and-fielded panelled entrance door with square-headed overlight, accessed by two bull-nosed stone steps and fronted by a modern stone portico (c.1990).

The southeast gable is blank.

The southwest (rear) elevation has a 6/6 window to right and left at first floor; abutted to right of centre by a two-storey return, having modern natural slate roofed curved sunroom to re-entrant angle with fully glazed multi-pane walls on low plinth wall incorporating a glazed door to southwest. Gable of two storey return is blank with a chimney stack to apex; left cheek has two casement windows to first floor with a casement window to ground floor right; right cheek has a large multi-pane timber casement window to first floor right of centre with two narrow multi-pane casements to right; abutted at ground floor by a flat-roof extension opening to southwest with a modern timber half-door; modern bay window to right cheek.

The northwest gable is blank.

Setting

Situated on a large elevated site south of Ballygowan Road, bounded to north by mature trees and a timber fence. Large farmyard with modern agricultural buildings to northwest accessed via modern timber-sheeted gates on roughcast gate piers with pointed caps. Garages to southwest

Roof: Natural slate
Walling: Pebble dash
Windows: Timber
RWG: Cast-iron / uPVC

Historical information

The building dates from the early nineteenth century and is located to the south west of Banbridge. The farmhouse is shown, uncaptioned, on the first edition OS map of 1834 as rectangular on plan with a small return. Shown to the rear are outbuildings forming a farmyard. In front of the house is a field edged with coniferous trees. By the third edition of 1903 the rear return of the house had been extended and there had been some additions to the farm outbuildings. In recent times the farm has grown considerably westwards and away from the house. The house is situated in a rural area that has increasingly been encroached upon by communication links and suburban growth from Banbridge, but remains in an agricultural setting.

The Townland Valuation of 1828-40 lists the house and offices at a valuation of £10.6s. The occupier is Andrew McClelland. Dimensions are given for the two-storey house and return as well as three single-storey outbuildings, one of which is noted to be a stable. The house is in a ‘good situation’.

Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64) shows that the occupier, James McClelland, has recently died and the house was in the hands of his representatives. Shortly after this, at an unknown date, the house, offices and over 37 acres of land were taken over by James McClelland (junior). The buildings are valued at £10.10s in Griffith’s Valuation and the land continues to be held by a James McClelland until his death in 1930, although it is likely that the property passed from father to son at least once, both being of the same name. The 1901 census shows that the farm was being run by James McClelland and his brother Andrew, a grain merchant, was also resident. A general domestic and a farm servant also lived at the house. The 1911 census shows no changes in the domestic arrangements.

James died in 1930 and the farm passed to his brother, Andrew. However, following Andrew’s death the farm was taken over by the Mathers, Thomas Mathers in 1937 and Isaac Mathers in 1938. In the First General Revaluation of the 1930s the house was revalued at £8.10s and £3.10 for agricultural buildings. The farmhouse is described as being in ‘medium condition’ with a rather ‘poor finish’. The outbuildings have been extended by this time but the additions were largely of temporary materials such as corrugated iron. The accommodation comprised four bedrooms, two receptions, a kitchen, pantry and scullery. The associated plan shows that additions have been made to the rear of the farmhouse and these are constructed from concrete block and asbestos tile.

The farmhouse continues in use as a dwelling.

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/3/33/1 First Edition OS Map 1834
2. PRONI OS/6/3/33/2 Second Edition OS map 1860
3. PRONI OS/6/3/33/3 Third Edition OS Map 1903
4. PRONI OS/6/3/33/4 Fourth Edition OS Map 1903-18
5. PRONI VAL/2/B/3/55D Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64)
6. PRONI VAL/12/B/16/22A-D Annual Revisions (1864-1929)
7. PRONI val/3/c/4/3 First General Revaluation (1936-57)
8. PRONI VAL/3/D/4/3/S/1 First General Revaluation (1933-57)
9. PRONI Will of James McClelland, died 1930

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
H-. Alterations detracting from building
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A symmetrical three-bay two-storey detached Georgian farmhouse; predating 1834 on the outskirts of Loughbrickland. Much historic fabric and detailing survives although there have been changes that detract from its original character and no original outbuildings have survived. It remains a good and robust example of the type.