Outbuildings

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Enclosed farmyard with multi-bay two-storey rubblestone range of outbuildings to the north having a two-storey projection to either end, dated 1846, and a further multi-bay single-storey range to the south of similar date. Located to the rear of Lisnacreevy House (HB17/08/041A) on the south side of Lisnacroppin Road and accessed via rear gravel driveway leading north.

Hipped natural slate roofs to the north range, pitched natural slate to the west structure, the south range and all smaller accretions. Black clay ridge tiles throughout with no rainwater goods and redbrick eaves courses. Coursed rubblestone walling with squared granite quoins and redbrick linings to all openings. To the east elevation of the north range is an inscribed square slate date plaque stating; ‘ERECTED / A.D. / 1846’. Largely replacement fixed-pane timber casement windows throughout.

North Range

The north range is abutted by an earthen horse ramp rising to the first floor of the north elevation and retained in part by a rubble stone wall. This elevation has replacement sheeted timber doors to the upper level.

The east elevation to the north range faces the rear elevation of the house running along the gravel driveway. Some original vertically-sheeted timber doors remain with largely replacement timber casement windows.

The south elevation to the north range is six windows wide, abutted to the east by a single-storey rubblestone goose house having a series of brick lined niches to the east elevation and a single rendered chimneystack. There is a modern steel flight of steps to the first floor of the south elevation and some early vertically-sheeted timber doors.

Abutting the west end of the north range is a further two-storey rubblestone structure having a dovecote inserted to the south gable constructed with redbrick and slate courses. Quoins to ground floor only. Abutting the west elevation is a small pig house with enclosed pen.

South Range

The north elevation to the south range has redbrick lined window and door openings with two early sheeted timber battened doors having a primitive timber latch.

The east gable has a series of loop holes and a redbrick lined oculus to the apex.

The south elevation has segmental-headed door openings formed in redbrick and squared granite with replacement hardwood glazed doors opening onto stone steps.

The west gable is abutted by a pair of small rubblestone pig houses with M-profile slate roof and enclosed animal pen to the north.

Setting

Set on an elevated mature site mainly accessed from the north via short gravel driveway passing the rear elevation of the house and the first range of outbuildings. Tall rubblestone walls enclose the yard to the east and west with wrought-iron gates supported on rubblestone piers. To the south of the yard is an enclosed rose garden with wrought-iron gates hung on redbrick piers having granite capstones and sweeping rubblestone quadrant walls.

Roof Natural slate
Walling Coursed rubblestone
Windows Replacement hardwood
RWG None

Historical information

Lisnacreevy House is a Georgian farmhouse that has undergone several periods of remodelling over the years. Some of the outbuildings present on the site today may have at their core fabric dating from before 1833, but the map evidence is unclear on this point and one of the outbuildings bears at datestone of 1846 suggesting a rebuild at this date. On the second edition OS map of 1853 the stable courtyard clearly assumes its present form with two outbuildings shown to the north and south. By 1903 these outbuildings had been extended to the west and north but the western additions were demolished between the 1930s and 1960s.

The first edition OS map of 1833 shows a collection of around half a dozen buildings on the site. One of these has survived as the Georgian core of the current dwelling house and some of the outbuildings may also be survivals from this period, although the size and disposition of outbuildings has changed drastically by the time of the second edition (1853) and a datestone records a rebuild in 1846. The Townland Valuation (1828-40) lists the house as the property of John Corbitt, with buildings valued at £11. The slated house measures 44x26.6x19 and there are five thatched outbuildings. John Corbitt died in 1839 (Belfast Newsletter) and the house was passed down through the family, with Robert Swan Corbitt noted as the occupier in Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64).

The second edition OS map of 1853 captions ‘Lisnacreevy Ho[use]’. The house has been extended by a wing to the south and there are now only three outbuildings to the rear. R S Corbitt leased the house, which was valued at £15, from the Representatives of William Sharman Crawford, the local landowner. The rent was £50 per annum and the house was situated on a plot of over 73 acres. Measurements are given for the house and addition and four slated outbuildings, two of which are double-height. Robert Swan Corbitt was a prominent local citizen, appointed to the magistracy in 1872 and standing as Unionist candidate for Down in 1886. (Belfast Newsletter) He was also a keen huntsman and is noted as president of Rathfriland greyhound coursing club in 1887. The Iveagh and Newry Harriers frequently met at Lisnacreevy House. (Belfast Newsletter)

The first Annual Revision of the valuation in the mid 1860s gives the valuation as £22.15s. The third edition OS map of 1903 shows that the main house has been extended to the rear and the outbuildings have been extended and modified. In 1901 the residents were Robert Corbitt, magistrate, farmer, flax and corn-mill owner, his wife, two adult children, and two domestic servants, one a 14-year-old boy. The house was of the first class and had fifteen rooms. Corbitt became the owner in fee under land purchase legislation in 1910 and in 1911, the family’s domestic staff had been extended to include another general domestic and a saddler. The census reveals that only two of the couple’s five children had survived. Corbitt’s son John G Corbitt took over the farm in 1919, presumably on his father’s death. In the 1930s valuer’s notes show that the accommodation comprised two attic rooms, three receptions, a flush WC, boxroom, five bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen, scullery and pantry. The building was thought to have a very good finish. A plan attached to the valuer’s notes shows that since the 1930s some of the structures surrounding the stableyard have been demolished, mostly to the western end of the yard.

The house passed out of the Corbitt family in 1938 when it was taken over by Archibald Creen (1938) and then Thomas Creen (1947). It remains in use as a domestic dwelling to this day and the outbuildings are in use for farming

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/3/41/1 First Edition OS Map 1833
2. PRONI OS/6/3/41/2 Second Edition OS map 1853
3. PRONI OS/6/3/41/3 Third Edition OS Map 1903
4. PRONI OS/6/3/41/4 Fourth Edition OS Map 1903-18
5. PRONI VAL/1/B/3507B Townland Valuation (1828-40)
6. PRONI VAL/2/B/3/49B Griffiths Valuation (1861)
7. PRONI VAL/12/B/16/4A-E Annual Revisions (1864-1929)
8. PRONI VAL/3/C/4/21First General Revaluation 1933-57
9. PRONI VAL/3/D/4/3/C/5 First General Revaluation 1933-57
10. Belfast Newsletter 23rd October 1872
11. Belfast Newsletter 7th July 1886
12. Belfast Newsletter 9th February 1887
13. Belfast Newsletter 7thJanuary 1888
14. 1901 census online
15. 1911 census online

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
D. Plan Form
F. Structural System
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Enclosed farmyard with multi-bay two-storey rubblestone range of outbuildings to the north having a two-storey projection to either end, dated 1846, and a further multi-bay single-storey range to the south of similar date. Located to the rear of Lisnacreevy House (HB17/08/041A) and accessed via gravel driveway leading north from the road. This extensive range of rubblestone outbuildings exhibit high quality stonemasonry and a range of purpose-built structures for the housing of animals, including pig houses and a gable dovecote. It forms part of the setting of the house and survives in virtually original condition. This farm yard is of quality and contributes to the interest of the site as whole.