Well House

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A one-storey/ single bay well house which contains valve to regulate flow of water in Mourne conduit, over which it is positioned. Orientated north - south in middle of field south of Brae Rd.
Pitched natural slate roof with terracotta ridge tiles and raised chamfered concrete verges. Ogee cast-iron gutters. Walls of roughly squared random rubble Silurian masonry over a raised base course. Yellow brick trimming to roof verges, quoins (stepped), window/ door heads (of flat segmental profile) and jambs (also stepped), and on projecting eaves and chamfered top to base. Concrete is used in kneeler stones at top of. quoins, gable apex and in sloping window cills.
The south gable contains a double-leaf metal door in semicircular headed opening. At apex of this and north gable is circular brick-trimmed louvred opening. The remaining walls each have a set of 2 over 2 timber-framed sliding sash windows, all with protective metal frames over.
Building surrounded by thorn hedge, with wrought-iron access gate at south. Gate posts have ball heads embossed 'BWC' (= Belfast Water Commissioners).

Historical information

The construction of the Mourne Conduit, which brought water to Belfast from the Annalong and Kilkeel rivers, was advertised by the Belfast City & District Water Commissioners in 1896. This well house is one of four identical structures on the conduit, the others being at Moneydarragh More Upper (HB 16/1/61), Tullybranigan (HB 18/13/71), and Ballykine (HB 18/6/13); there is also a fifth at Dunnywater (HB 16/1/51) . All appear to have been designed by BCDWC Engineer L.L. Macassey and were erected in the second half of the 1890s. They came into service with the opening of the service reservoir at Knockbreckan in October 1901.
This well house is at the south end of the Bow Lough siphon (a piped section of conduit carrying the water underground across a valley). It contains a valve which automatically regulates the flow of water into the siphon pipe (and thus the internal water pressure), and also cut it off when necessary for inspection purposes. It was constructed by Messrs Fisher and LeFanu, who were also responsible for the laying of this section of the conduit.

Sources:
Advertisement regarding construction of conduit contained in PRONI -
WAT1/3FG/1/1.
DOE Water Service, Westland Rd- drawing 3D18.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

V. Authorship
X. Local Interest
Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance

Evaluation

Although seemingly incongruous in this pastoral landscape, this modest utilitarian structure has been carefully executed in distinctive BCDWC style and good use has been made of contrasting yellow brick for embellishment. It is also of historical interest in being associated with Belfast's first water supply from the Mournes. Listing also includes the access gate in the boundary hedge.