Parkrow House

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Detached symmetrical three-bay two-storey with attic rendered house, built c.1780, with pair of single-storey bowed pavilions to either side and canted two-storey with attic return, rebuilt c.1990. T-shaped on plan facing west with extensive landscaped gardens to the west and south and a rear yard enclosed by two ranges of single-storey outbuildings. Located on the south side of Parkrow Road.

Pitched natural slate roof, reroofed c.1975, with black clay ridge tiles and a tall rendered profiled chimneystack rising from either gable end. Moulded cast-iron guttering supported in ogee corbels to moulded eaves course and cast-iron downpipes. Hipped natural slate roof to return with rolled lead hips and ridges and pair of barrel-headed dormer windows. Rough-cast rendered walling to main house, smooth cement render to return. Square-headed window openings with smooth render surrounds, cut stone sills and replacement timber sash windows with exposed sash boxes.

Symmetrical front elevation is five windows wide with a central three-centred-arched door opening having replacement tripartite timber doorcase with spider-web fanlight, tracery sidelights and raised-and-fielded timber panelled door opening onto stone flagged front area. The north pavilion is an original structure while the south pavilion was rebuilt c.1990. Hipped natural slate roofs to both pavilions with rolled lead hips and ridges having a semi-conical slate roof extending to the curved bay windows to the west. Each multi-pane timber curved bay window is replacement, replicating the original design. The north pavilion is abutted by a further single-bay single-storey accretion having a replacement timber Wyatt window.

North side elevation abutted by the north pavilion.

Rear elevation abutted by multi-bay two-storey return having 6/6 timber sash windows to the rear elevation at first floor level, 8/8 at ground floor level.

The south gable is abutted by the south pavilion, built c.1990. Three pairs of multi-pane timber French doors to the pavilion are framed with fluted Doric pilasters and entablature over. Doors open onto raised stone flagged platform and steps.

Setting

Rear gravel yard enclosed by rubblestone walls and a range of single-storey rendered outbuildings to the north, built c.1950, with a further single-storey rubblestone outbuilding attached to the east having pitched corrugated iron roof and vertically-sheeted timber vehicular doors. The south of the yard is enclosed by a single range of single-storey rubblestone outbuildings with a split in level and corrugated iron roofs having replacement sheeted timber stable doors. Extending from the rear yard to the north is a rear gravel drive opening onto the road via pair of wrought-iron gates and sweeping rendered walls. Gravel front area within landscaped gardens continuing to the northwest as a gravel front drive opening onto the road via pair of rebuilt sweeping stone walls with rendered piers and wrought-iron gates.

Roof Natural slate
Walling Rough-cast
Windows timber
RWG cast-iron

Historical information

Parkrow House is a Georgian gentleman farmer’s residence, which pre-dates the first ordnance survey of 1833; field inspection suggests a date of c1780. Map evidence shows that the two pavilions flanking the main house were added in the mid-nineteenth century, as was a rear return, although some outbuildings are earlier and those to the south of the rear courtyard may be contemporary with the house. The north pavilion is an original structure while the south pavilion and rear return was rebuilt c.1990, to designs by Brian Emerson.

‘Parkrow House’ is shown captioned on the first ordnance survey map of 1833 as a simple rectangular structure with outbuildings to the south east which appear to correspond to the main house and an outbuilding present on the site today. The next edition of 1859 shows that the house has been much extended, with the addition of pavilions and a return and a further outbuilding has been added to the courtyard which also appears to have survived. Gardens are laid out to the south and a tree-lined driveway leads to the house. Minor additions are made to outbuildings by the third edition but the essential form of house and stable courtyard remains unchanged.

The house is initially listed in the Townland Valuation of 1828-40 as the home of Rev James Collins and is later taken over by ‘Mr Crommie’ Dimensions are given for the house and five outbuildings. Griffith’s Valuation of 1856-64 gives the occupant as William Cromie who leases the house from John Woodhouse at a rent of £30 annually. The house, which sits on a plot of over 18 acres is valued at £18 and dimensions are given for the house and pavilions and a range of outbuildings, both single and two-storey. The valuer comments, ‘respectable situation, neat avenue, rather hilly roads to it’. The house passed down through the Cromie family before being taken over by George Todd in 1898. Todd was a linen merchant and lived at the house with his wife and three children and kept a single domestic servant. The twelve-room house was designated first class. By 1911 only one daughter remained at home but the family now availed of two servant girls. In the 1930s the accommodation was listed by valuers as four bedrooms, three receptions, a kitchen, pantries, a scullery, bathroom with hot and cold water and a WC and an attached plan gives dimensions for the house and outbuildings. The last owner to be noted is Thomas Aubrey Smith, a surgeon who moved into the house in 1938. The house continues in domestic use.

References

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/3/21/1 – First Edition Ordnance Survey map 1833
2. PRONI OS/6/3/21/2 – Second Edition Ordnance Survey map 1859
3. PRONI OS/6/3/21/3 – Third Edition Ordnance Survey map 1903
4. PRONI OS/6/3/21/4 – Fourth Edition Ordnance Survey map 1919-20
5. PRONI VAL/1/B/342 Townland Valuation (1828-40)
6. PRONI VAL/2/B/3/38F – Griffith’s Valuation 1861
7. PRONI VAL/12/B/16/10A –F Annual Revisions 1864-1930
8. PRONI VAL/3/C/4/3 First General Revaluation 1933-57
9. PRONI VAL/3/D/4/3/T/3 First General Revaluation 1933-57
10. 1901 census online
11. 1911 census online

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

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

Criteria for listing: historic interest

R. Age
S. Authenticity
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Detached symmetrical three-bay two-storey with attic rendered house, built c.1780, with pair of single-storey bowed pavilions to either side (south pavilion rebuilt c.1990 to designs by Brian Emerson) and canted two-storey with attic return, rebuilt c.1990. Parkrow House is a Georgian gentleman farmer’s residence. Its Georgian character survives with much fabric and detailing representing historic changes, including the pavilions and Edwardian refurbishment. The original setting also survives, with a good avenue and yard. This is a good example of the type.