Vernacular Dwelling

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

The remains of a one-and-a-half-storey three-bay hearth-lobby entry early nineteenth century vernacular house, located close to the shores of Lough Shark, north of Poyntzpass at Lisnabrague TD. Rectangular on plan, probably extended to right, with later rear addition and loft over right bay.

Thatch under tin to central and left bays, slated over loft to right bay. Rendered chimneystack to party wall between central and left bays, remainder concealed by vegetation. Rubble stone walling, with vestiges of ochre-pigmented limewashed lime render. Remains of timber sash windows with exposed sash boxes (the most complete appears to be 3/6). Granite cills. Remains of timber sheeted door, collapsed.

Principal elevation faces north-east. Right bay has a large window opening, to right of which the wall has been knocked through; central bay has a window to left of a windbreak porch, with remains of panelled timber door collapsed on the floor. Right bay has a single window.

South-east gable is blank.

Rear (south-west) elevation is abutted by an addition (of little interest), accessed at south-east by a door opening (sheeted door collapsed) with margin-paned transom light and timber architrave. Left bay has been knocked through.

North-west gable has a four-paned attic window.

Setting

The house is remotely situated in a wooded copse, immediately south of Lough Shark surrounded by agricultural land. It is accessed from Bann Road via a farm lane, part of which is now given over to pasture; the section immediately to south of the house is straight, lying below the surrounding ground level with earthen banks, and completely sheltered by hedgerow trees. There is an outbuilding immediately to north-west. The Dane’s Cast earthwork (DOW:033029) is located to east.

Roof: Thatch under tin / part natural slate
Walling: Rubble stone
Windows: Vestigial timber sliding sashes
RWG: None

Historical information

The vernacular farmhouse pre-dates 1834 and is shown on the first edition OS map of that year. The rectangular structure is sited on the low-lying shores of Lough Shark with the pre-historic earthwork known as the ‘Dane’s Cast’ to the east and Newry Canal to the west. The second edition (1860) shows an approach driveway to the building which is lined with trees, but after 1903 these trees are no longer present. By the time of the fourth edition (1903-18) the house had been extended to the rear.

Griffith’s Valuation lists the house, offices and 7 acres of land with buildings valued at £1. The occupier, William Fleming, leases the property from local landowner A J R Stewart, paying a rent of 38s. In 1893, most likely after Fleming’s death, the farm was taken over by his widow Esther Fleming who died in 1908. The 1901 census shows that Esther lived at the farmhouse with her two daughters, Essie Jane and Maggie. The farmhouse is designated third class in the census, unusually low for surviving buildings. The third class designation was due to the small number of rooms (3) and the fact that both the walls and roof were said to be of perishable materials, suggesting the farm was not only thatched but of mud or turf construction. The census is not always an accurate guide with regard to materials, however, and by 1911 the house, while still thatched, is recorded as stone/brick-built. The farm was left by Esther in her will to her elder daughter Essie Jane and a sum of £30 to her younger daughter Maggie. By 1910 Essie Jane had married and the 1911 census records her at the farm with her husband John Thomas Lyttle and two young boys of 3 years and 7 months. The Lyttle family remained resident until at least the 1950s.

At the time of the First General Revaluation the house was revalued at £16.10s with agricultural buildings valued at 10s. The accommodation comprised two bedrooms, a reception and a kitchen. Dimensions are given for three sections, roofed in slate and corrugated iron.

The dwelling is now in a state of disrepair and is currently vacant.

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 Will of Esther Fleming, died 11th March 1908
8. PRONI VAL/3/C/4/3 First General Revaluation (1936-57)
9. PRONI VAL/3/D/4/3/S/4 First General Revaluation (1933-57)
10. 1901 census online
11. 1911 census online

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A single/one-and-a-half storey early nineteenth-century hearth-lobby entry house, occupying a rural setting close to the shores of Lough Shark, north of Poyntzpass. It retains vestigial thatch roof structure beneath tin, and is slated over attic level. The house represents a rare typology within both local and national contexts, and is an example of an evolved vernacular homestead, retaining several examples of traditional construction techniques both inside and out. However, there has been significant loss of historic fabric and this has compromised its architectural and historic interest.