56 Kiln Lane

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A symmetrical two-storey three-bay detached farmhouse with neighbouring single-storey vernacular dwelling, built c. 1860 and located to the north side of Kiln Lane northeast of Banbridge town centre. Rectangular on plan.

Pitched natural slate roof with stone verges, blue/black angled ridge tiles and rendered chimneystacks to gables. Cast-iron half-round rainwater goods on projecting eaves. Walling is pebble-dashed on a smooth rendered plinth. Windows are timber-framed sash, 3/6 to first floor and 6/6 to ground floor, all with projecting granite sills.

The principal elevation faces southeast and is three evenly-spaced openings wide at each floor. To centre at ground floor is a panelled-and-glazed timber door with transom light fronted by red-brick wind-break porch with concrete roof.

The southwest gable is blank.

The northwest elevation was not viewed; see surveyor’s comments.

The northeast gable has a 6/6 window to centre at first floor.

Setting

Situated on a country road to the northeast of Banbridge town centre, surrounded by farmland. Lawned and shrub garden to front with central concrete pathway to entrance door; bounded to road by pebbledash wall on a smooth rendered plinth with painted masonry saddleback coping. To centre are two gate piers supporting a wrought-iron latch gate. To northeast is a small lane accessed via a set of wrought-iron gates on metal piers, giving access to farmland to rear and also enclosed yard to rear of house. Yard has slated two-storey barn to northwest and enclosed to northeast by a high painted render wall with timber gate. To southwest is a single-storey dwelling in the vernacular style pre-dating number 56 (now in separate ownership). Vernacular house has modern timber-sheeted half-door to centre and has two replacement timber casement windows to left and three to right. Slated roof with raised verges and three simple rendered chimneystacks. Lawned garden to front with central concrete pathway enclosed by roughcast rendered masonry wall.

Roof: Natural slate
Walling: Pebble dash
Windows: Timb
RWG: Cast-iron

Historical information

The current farmhouse was built between 1833 and 1860 and is situated in the rural hinterland of Banbridge, in an agricultural area that has changed little in the intervening period, despite the gradual suburban expansion of the town. The house was constructed alongside a single-storey dwelling in the vernacular style, demonstrating a progression from the earlier, simpler structure to a more substantial homestead as the farm became more prosperous. The earlier vernacular dwelling is shown on the first edition OS map of 1833 and the Townland Valuation suggests that it was the property of James Graham, a single-storey thatched house valued at £4.18s. The valuation map for this area is unfortunately missing making it impossible to verify the ownership of this early house with certainty. An outbuilding shown on the first edition OS map appears to have survived, the Townland Valuation indicating that it was then of mud construction.

The current farmhouse had been built by 1860 and was valued in the contemporary Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64) at £10. The house was occupied by Sarah Anne Graham and the adjacent vernacular house by Samuel Graham, although the two houses were leased separately and from different landlords. The landlord of the current dwelling was Thomas Crozier, brother of the celebrated explorer Captain Francis Rawdon Moira Crozier, who died while attempting to navigate the North-West passage and is commemorated by a memorial in Banbridge town. Dimensions are given for a two-storey house of 12 yds by 9yds, described as a ‘neat farm ho[use]’. In 1867 the current farmhouse passed to Joseph Mehaffy but the smaller vernacular dwelling remained in the Graham family for some years, passing to James Gordon in 1894.

The 1901 census reveals that Joseph Mehaffy, farmer, lived with his wife, five children and two grand-children. His older children helped on the farm but his 16 year old son was a shop assistant, most likely having obtained employment in nearby Banbridge. By 1911 Joseph had died and the farm was being run by his widow Jane with the assistance of two of her children. The fourth edition OS map of 1903-18 captions the building ‘Ballymoney House’ indicating its claim to be a residence of some significance within the townland of Ballymoney. Thomas Henry Mehaffy, Jane’s son, had taken over the farm by 1917 and he remained resident until at least the 1950s. A further house was built to the west of the vernacular dwelling in 1929, perhaps for a member of the extended family. A porch added to the present dwelling would also appear to date from around this period.

In the First General Revaluation, the house was revalued at £10 and associated agricultural outbuildings at £3.10s. Valuer’s notes indicate that the accommodation in the house comprised a lobby, two receptions, kitchen, scullery and pantry downstairs with a landing and four bedrooms upstairs. The valuer commented that it was a ‘well built farm house in good condition, rather large for size of holding’. A plan and dimensions were given, showing the house and scullery in the return. Outbuildings included a calf house, byre and store with loft over.

The dwelling remains in use as a farmhouse.

References:
Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/3/27/1 First Edition OS Map 1833
2. PRONI OS/6/3/27/2 Second Edition OS map 1860
3. PRONI OS/6/3/27/3 Third Edition OS Map 1903
4. PRONI OS/6/3/27/4 Fourth Edition OS Map 1903-18
5. PRONI VAL/1/B/348B Townland Valuation (1828-40)
6. PRONI VAL/2/B/3/41 Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64)
7. PRONI VAL/12/B/16/6A-H Annual Revisions (1864-1929)
8. PRONI VAL/12/F/4/2/3 – Annual Revisions (1930-35)
9. PRONI VAL/3/C/4/1 First General Revaluation (1933-57)
10. PRONI VAL/3/D/4/3/E/2 First General Revaluation (1933-57)
11. 1901 census online
12. 1911 census online

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A symmetrical two-storey three-bay detached farmhouse with neighbouring single-storey vernacular dwelling, built c. 1860. Its historic character has been somewhat compromised by alterations. Outbuildings to a rear yard and an earlier single-storey dwelling, add interest. However, it is of a late date and not one of the best examples of the type and its interest has been compromised by alteration.