Mount Caper

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Unusual, two storey gabled block containing two houses of differing dates, one probably pre 1834 and the other possibly c.1840. The pre 1834 house (No.76) has a relatively regular appearance but sports two unusual metal ‘oriel’ windows which were inserted c.1940. Its neighbour is more irregular, containing both two and three storey portions all under the same roofline, perhaps suggesting that it was once two properties. It is thought that much of the block was built to serve as accommodation for visitors to the near by spa. The houses are set on a rise to the N of Grove Road, on the fringe of the small hamlet of The Spa, roughly 2 miles S of Ballynahinch.

No. 76 is to the W end of the block. Its (S) front façade and is asymmetrical. To the right of centre of the ground floor of the front façade is a small projecting flat roofed porch (possibly added c.1940). The door is recessed within a segmental arch headed opening smooth cement dressings. Directly above the door opening is a plain fanlight. To the right of the porch is a sash window (6/6) with a decorative (early 20th century) cement dressing. To the left of the porch are two narrow window openings with dressings as before. Each opening has an ‘oriel’ window arrangement which has been created by the insertion, at an angle to each other, of two multi-pane steel framed windows. To the first floor are three evenly spaced sash windows all as right. To the far left is a lean-to garage (attached to W gable), with a modern up and over garage door.

The W gable has an uneven pitch. The lower portion of the gable is obscured by the lean-to garage. To the first floor are three unevenly spaced sash windows all 2/2. To the left of centre and projecting above the garage roof is the top portion of a 6/6 sash window.

To the left of centre of the rear elevation is a two storey gabled return. To the right (on rear façade of main house) of this is a modern ‘stable door’ to the ground floor and a small modern window set in a vertical recess on the left side. To the left of the return is a modern ground floor window and a squat first floor window (3/3) To the N face of the two storey return are three modern windows of different size two to first floor and one to ground floor. To the W face of the return is a modern window to the left and a modern ‘stable door’ to the right. The E face is blank but for a small (1/1) window to first floor and a large modern window to ground, both of which are to the far left.

The façade of No.76 is finished in rough cast and painted to the rear. The roof is slated and to the return there is a small Velux window. There are two cream brick chimney stacks to the main roof. Cast iron and PVC rw goods.

No.78. The front façade of this house is also asymmetrical. To the left of centre is a small and awkward looking projecting lean-to porch with splayed sides and a modern half glazed door. To the left of the porch the façade displays two levels of windows (as No.76) whilst to the right there are three levels. This difference in levels has been made possible partly because the ground slopes towards this side, thus giving the façade greater depth. To the immediate right of the porch is a modern top hung window, (which attempts to simulate a Georgian paned sash window), with a simple cement dressing. Directly above there are a further two windows to both first and second floors, all of similar style but decreasing in size as one rises. To the left of the porch are two ground floor windows which are set at a higher level than that to right (because of the ground level). To the first floor directly above these are two more windows. All have frames as right hand side.

The E gable has a modern window to the right side of the first and second floors.

The rear elevation has a shallow, almost central, two storey gabled return which has a panelled door to the ground floor and a modern window to first floor of its N gabled face. The E and W faces of the return are blank. To the left of this is a single storey flat roofed extension with a combined modern window and door. The first floor of the façade of the main building to the left of the return is blank. To the right of the return there is a large modern window to first floor and two narrow windows to ground floor.

The façade is finished in rough cast and painted to the rear. The roof is slated with a cream brick chimney stack to E gable and another (to W) shared with No.76. Cast iron rw goods.

To the E of this block there is a further block containing two low two storey houses, of probable 19th century origin but much modernised in recent years.

Historical information

The irregular façade of this block indicates that it was built in sections. This is supported by the details supplied by the valuation of 1836 which states that though there was a two storey house present this date, the remainder of the block was single storey. From the dimensions given by the valuers, it is probable that the two storey house, (which was perhaps 30 years old or more at that date), equates to No.76.

It is possible, given the fact that it sported Georgian paned windows until recently, that the present No.78 was built shortly after the valuation, perhaps c.1840. However, given the discrepancies in the floor levels of the house, and that fact that there was originally an additional central chimney stack, (removed c.1980s), it is likely that it was once two separate properties.

The current occupants stated that the various properties served as guest houses up until the early 1900s, accommodating visitors to the near by spa.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI D.1255 Title deeds, legal and testamentary papers, correspondence and Irish Land Commissioners Papers re the Ballynahinch Estate, 1630-1940
2 PRONI OS/6/3/29/1 OS map, Down sh 29, 1834
3 PRONI VAL/1B/388A-B Valuation records, Magherdrool, 1834-1838
4 PRONI OS/6/3/29/2 OS map, Down sh 29, 1858
5 PRONI and Linen Hall Library Second (Griffith’s) valuation, Magherdrool, c.1863 [in print]
6 PRONI OS/6/3/29/3 OS map, Down sh 29, c.1901

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Unusual two storey gabled block containing two houses of differing dates, one probably pre 1834 and the other possibly c.1840. The pre 1834 house (No.76) has a relatively regular appearance but sports two unusual metal ‘oriel’ windows which were inserted c.1940. Its neighbour is more irregular, containing both two and three storey portions (all possessing the same roof level as No.76), perhaps suggesting that it was once two properties. No.78 now has modern window frames throughout.