Cargagh House

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

One and a half storey farm house of perhaps c.1850, with large two storey return, completely renovated in the 1980s and now sporting PVC window frames and doors. The property is located to the E side of Cargagh Road, c.1.5 miles S of Crossgar.

The front façade faces roughly W and is symmetrical. To the centre is a PVC door screen set within a large elliptical arch opening. To the left and to the right are two relatively large windows with modern frames (as do all windows). The S gable has a single window to the upper floor, as does the N gable.

To the rear there is a large two storey gabled return. To the N façade of the return there is a glazed door and two windows to the ground floor and two windows to the first floor. To the gable of the return there is a large window to each floor. To the S façade of the return there are two windows to the ground floor and one to the first floor.

The exposed left hand portion of the rear façade of the main section of the house has a door and window, the exposed right hand portion has a much large window.

The front façade and gables of the main section are finished in pebbledash render with smooth cement bands to the openings and wall edges. The remainder of the building is finished in plain painted render. The roof of the main (front) section has natural slate to the front and asbestos to the rear. The return roof is also covered in asbestos slate. Both sections of the roof have an overhang. Velux window to rear of roof of main section. The main section of the house has four rendered chimney stacks (at least one of which is a dummy). The return roof has a single rendered stack. PVC rw goods.

Historical information

A building is shown on this site on the OS map of 1834. According to the 1836 valuation returns, however, this building (which was then in the hands of a Mrs Brown) was slightly longer than the current house. The OS map of 1859-60 shows a structure of similar shape to the present. It is probable, given the formality of the front façade, that today’s house dates from the mid 19th century; however, much of the fabric of the pre 1834 house may have remained in place.

The 1863 valuation records the owner as one James Hutton. In c.1880s the property was acquired by a Dr James Carlisle, who remained there until c.1917, when Cargagh House was bought by the present owner’s family.

The building itself appears to have been substantially renovated by Dr Carlisle, and retained much of its late 19th/early 20th century detailing until the 1980s, when the property was comprehensively modernised.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI OS/6/3/30/1 OS map, 1834, Down 30
2 PRONI VAL/1A/3/30 1st valuation map, c.1835-38, Down 30
3 PRONI VAL/1B/372 1st valuation, Inch, 1838
4 ‘Belfast and Province of Ulster Directory’ Vols.1-21, 1852-1900, (Belfast, Henderson [1852-65], Belfast News-Letter [1865- ])
5 PRONI OS/6/3/30/2 OS map, 1859, Down 30
6 PRONI 2nd (‘Griffith’s) valuation, Inch, 1863
7 George Henry Bassett ‘County Down Guide and Directory’ (Dublin 1886), pp.378-79
8 PRONI OS/6/3/30/3 OS map, 1901, Down 30
9 PRONI OS/6/3/30/4 OS map, 1920, Down 30

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

One and a half storey farm house of perhaps c.1850, with large two storey return, completely renovated in the 1980s and now sporting PVC window frames and doors.