Ashfield House Outbuildings

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Two two-storey outbuildings predating 1830, associated with the farmhouse, Ashfield, (HB17/13/014A). Located north of the junction between Killysorrell Road and Villa Wood Road; approximately 2 miles south west of Dromore.

Outbuilding 01

Two-storey four-bay former stores with adjoining livestock accommodation to the side and rear. Pitched natural slate roof; cast-iron rainwater goods. Roughcast render; partially exposed rubble masonry walling with brick surrounds, some snecking. A variety of fixed and sliding sash timber windows with either steel or timber glazing bars; timber louvered openings; all windows in shallow reveals; openings with relieving segmental-arches. Timber sheeted doors.

The principal elevation faces west and is asymmetrically arranged. Three ground floor doors; the left door is flanked by a fixed four-pane light to the right and an 8/8 timber sliding sash to the left. Two cast-iron pattress plates between first and second floor. The first floor comprises three louvered windows to the right; loading door to the left and a 9-paned fixed light far left. Portion of former wall that enclosed the yard abutting ground floor right.

The left gable is abutted at ground floor by a single-storey slated lean-to red-brick and rubble masonry livestock pen with wrought-iron roof lights, The right gable comprises a timber sheeted door with a fixed light to the right and a fixed 9-pane light to the left with replacement concrete cill; the north elevation comprises blank rubble masonry bay to the right; fixed 6-pane light to the centre with two timber sheeted doors to the left.

The rear elevation comprises a set of masonry steps accessing a single door to the first floor left. The remainder of the elevation is abutted by a double-height slate lean-to rubble masonry livestock pen (under separate ownership); door to the right flanked by two steel framed 6-pane casement windows, door to the right; the right gable is abutted by the north gable abutment; the left gable is red-bricked and comprises a single window opening.

The left gable has a single door at first floor level.

Outbuilding 02

Two-storey four-bay former stables with later added coach masters’ accommodation and adjoining carpenters workshop to the rear. Pitched natural slate roof; cast-iron rainwater goods; roughcast chimney; no pots; weather vane. Roughcast render; partially exposed rubble masonry walling with brick surrounds. A variety of timber louvered openings and fixed light with steel glazing bars. Timber sheeted doors; stable doors.

The principal elevation faces west and is asymmetrically arranged; three central modern stable doors; fixed light to the left; door to the right. The first floor comprises central door flanked by louvered opening to the left and two louvered openings to the right; single fixed light to the far left. Steel pattress plates located between ground and first floor; electric lamp in glass enclosure adjacent the left stable door.

The left gable has a single door to the ground floor left and a squared headed loft light with brick surrounds centrally positioned.

The rear elevation is abutted by a single-storey lean-to abutment to the right and a two-storey lean-to abutment to the left. Both natural slate roofs and masonry walling with brick surrounds. The right abutment comprises a single door to the right cheek and two windows to the east elevation (timber sash to the right; steel casement to the left). The left abutment is comprises four lights to ground and first floor; steel glazing bars with pivoted openings; ground and first floor doors to the left cheek.

The right gable has a single window at ground floor; steel glazing bars with pivoted opening.

Setting

Single-storey double-pile former coach house with adjoining later added lean-to hen house to south of the yard; of lesser interest. To the west is the main house(HB17/13/014A); a two-storey three-bay farmhouse predating 1830. To the east is a large rectangular plan-form three-storey former hemstitching factory(HB17/13/014C); pitched natural slate roof with brick chimneystacks; cast-iron rainwater goods. Rubble masonry walling to the ground and first floor and brick second floor. Throughout the site are various wrought-iron gates and rubble walls. Adjacent to the stores (OB01); is a cast-iron water pump; cover over the well.

Roofing: Natural slate
Walling: stone
Windows: metal/timber
RWG: Cast-iron

Historical information

The two two-storey outbuildings located at Ashfield House (HB17/13/014A), a two-storey house constructed in the mid-18th century, in the townland of Killysorrell were constructed prior to 1834, first appearing on the first edition of the Ordnance Survey map in that year. The Townland Valuations recorded that Ashfield House and its outbuildings were jointly valued at £15 13s. and was occupied by David Lindsay (1795-1859), a member of the important linen family that originally resided at Tullyhenan House (HB 17/13/006) and later possessed residences at Moorlands (HB17/07/038), Balleevy House (HB17/12/002) and Clanmurry (HB17/13/019).

David Lindsay resided at Ashfield until his death in 1859 at which time his son Maurice Lindsay took possession of the site. The three-storey factory, located to the northeast of the site was constructed by the second edition of the Ordnance Survey maps in 1858. The entire site consisting of Ashfield House, the two two-storey outbuildings, the three-storey factory and a gate lodge situated at the entrance on the Killysorrell Road (now demolished) was jointly valued at £50 in Griffith’s Valuation (1861). Maurice Lindsay let the land from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners (the Church of Ireland remained the largest landowner in Ireland in the 1860s).

Maurice Lindsay died in 1877 at which time Ashfield House passed out of the Lindsay family (PRONI Wills); on 26th March 1878 Ashfield was sold by public auction at the Downshire Arms Hotel in Banbridge. The site was described as ‘nicely situated, and in every way suitable for a Gentleman’s residence, is very commodious, substantially built and slated, and in excellent order’ whilst the outbuildings were ‘very extensive, and well adapted for carrying on the Linen Manufacturing business on a large scale’ (Banbridge Chronicle). The lease was purchased by a Mr. John Moore who also came into possession of the 21 dwellings that constituted Ashfield Village.

The 1901 Census notes that Moore (65, Unitarian) was also employed as a linen manufacturer and was also a Justice of the Peace for County Down. The census building return noted that Ashfield House possessed a number of out offices including a stable, two cow houses, a dairy, piggery, boiling house, a barn, forge and a laundry room situated in the two-storey outbuildings to the north-east of the site.

The Annual Revisions note that John Moore’s three-storey factory was a hemstitching works; the site is first captioned as a ‘Hemstitching factory’ on the third edition of the Ordnance Survey map in 1903. John Moore continued to reside at Ashfield until his death c. 1911 when his daughter Julia Moore (45) took over the site, however by 1914 a Mr. William A. McMurray had taken over possession of the house, the outbuildings and the factory. By 1922 the Coey family had occupied Ashfield when Msrs George H. and Edward Coey purchased the lease and were recorded as occupants in the Annual Revisions; Ashfield continues to be occupied by a relative of the Coey family.

According to Rankin Ashfield House was constructed c. 1760 and is the oldest house connected with the Lindsay family. Rankin states that Ashfield was constructed by Maurice Lindsay; however the site was originally leased out to the Rev. W. [Hewig] from 1766 and was occupied by his son John [Hewig] in 1789. It was not until 1792 that Maurice Lindsay (1745-1815) purchased Ashfield House. Maurice Lindsay was the son of David Lindsay (b. 1710) of Tullyhenan House which was the family home for over 250 years; the Lindsay’s first came to Ireland in 1642 during the Irish Confederacy War (1641-53). Originally from Scotland the 17th century Lindsays were part of the army of General Monro who was sent to Ireland with order to quell the Irish Catholic Rebellion (which had began in 1641). In the aftermath of the conflict the Lindsays settled at Tullyhenan and established their first dwelling in the townland. Rankin states that ‘in the development of the linen industry of the Bann towards the end of the 18th century the Lindsay family played a notable part ... the family connected with many other well known linen families such as the Crawfords, Mulligans and Hunters’ (Rankin, pp 36-41).

It was Maurice Lindsay’s son David who established the first textile business at Ashfield in 1828 which weaved heavy fabrics by hand looms. By 1839 Lindsay employed 950 weavers who predominantly manufactured linens, unions and cottons from home; the three-storey factory was constructed between 1836 and 1859 (when it was first depicted on the second edition of the Ordnance Survey map) (Green, p. 20). With the death of Maurice Lindsay in 1877 the Lindsay family vacated Ashfield House after approximately 85 years.
Ashfield House, and its outbuildings, were listed in 1977 and continue to be occupied by a member of the Coey family who came into possession c. 1922. The two two-storey outbuildings located the northeast of the house have been maintained in an excellent state of preservation and have underwent very few alterations. The outbuildings retain their original character and contribute to the historical significance of the group as a rural linen manufacturing site associated with the Lindsay family.

References

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/3/20/1 – First Edition Ordnance Survey map 1834
2. PRONI OS/6/3/20/2 – Second Edition Ordnance Survey map 1858
3. PRONI OS/6/3/20/3 – Third Edition Ordnance Survey map 1903
4. PRONI OS/6/3/20/4 – Fourth Edition Ordnance Survey map 1903-1916
5. PRONI VAL/1/A/3/20 – Townland Valuation map c. 1830
6. PRONI VAL/1/B/342 – Townland Valuation c. 1830
7. PRONI VAL/2/B/3/38D – Griffith’s Valuation 1861
8. PRONI VAL/12/B/16/21A – Annual Revisions 1864 - 1876
9. PRONI VAL/12/B/16/21B – Annual Revisions 1876 - 1885
10. PRONI VAL/12/B/16/21C – Annual Revisions 1885 - 1900
11. PRONI VAL/12/B/16/21D – Annual Revisions 1900 - 1908
12. PRONI VAL/12/B/16/21E – Annual Revisions 1909 – 1930
13. Ordnance Survey Memoirs, Co Down III, Vol. 12 (1834; 1837)
14. PRONI Wills Catalogue (13 May 1859; 14 Oct 1877)
15. Banbridge Chronicle (2 Mar 1878)
16. Census of Ireland (1901 / 1911)
17. First Survey Record – HB17/13/014 (1969)
18. Ordnance Survey Map – 202-6 (1973)

Secondary Sources

1. Dean, J. A. K., ‘The gate lodges of Ulster: A gazetteer’ Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1994.
2. Green, E. R. R. ‘The industrial archaeology of County Down’ Belfast: H.M.S.O., 1963.
3. Rankin, K., ‘The linen houses of the Bann Valley: The story of their families’ Belfast: Ulster Historical Foundation, 2007).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

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

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Two two-storey outbuildings predating 1830, associated with the Ashfield House (HB17/13/014A). Their overall appearance and character have survived, having undergone little modern intervention. The various historic extensions and alterations represent the evolving nature of the site. They form part of the setting of the main house and are good examples of the type surviving in original condition.

General comments

This record was previously known as HB17/13/014