Drumnahall

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Substantial, single storey house of c.1840 large rear return and slight Regency overtones, possibly built for a senior employee, or land agent, of the Montalto estate. The property is abutted to the north side by a smaller informal dwelling probably dating from c.1880-c.1900. The building is set at the end of a lane to W of Spa Road, within the Montalto estate.

The front façade faces roughly W and is symmetrical. To the centre there is a panelled door with semicircular radial fanlight. In front of the doorway is a flat roofed portico supported on two Ionic columns. The roof of the portico is largely hidden by thick ivy growth, but a laurel wreath moulding can be seen on the entablature above the right column.

Either side of the doorway there is a large sash window with Regency-type glazing with both Georgian and margin panes.

The S elevation consists of the gable of the main front portion and the S façade of the long return. The gable has a sash window, with Georgian panes (6/6), to the right on the ground floor. To the attic level are two semicircular arched sash windows with gothick tracery (9/6). To the left on the (flush) S façade of the return there is window, as ground floor of gable. To the far right there is a small sash window to the ground floor and an even smaller one to the first floor.

The former N elevation is now almost totally obscured by the single storey gabled / hipped roof house which now abuts this side. All that can now be seen is a portion of the N gable of the main front section, which has an attic window to right, much as those to S but shorter (9/3).

To the rear façade there is a left of centre carriage doorway with timber sheeted double doors with wicket gate. To the right of this (and set at a higher level- due to the fact that the ground slopes to this side), is a window with modern frame. To the right of the carriage door is a large double door with upper portions glazed. Above the carriage arch there is a window with modern frame, set into a small gable.

The rear carriage arch leads into a small courtyard. To the W side of this courtyard is a gabled bay (actually the rear of the main front section), with window with modern frame set at a high level. To ground level is a small timber sheeted door leading into a cellar. To the S side (actually the N face of the long return) there is a large modern window and (to left) a panelled door. To the first floor are two small sash windows (3/3). To the N side is the S face of another return, whose outside (N façade) was originally exposed but is now totally obscured by the neighbouring dwelling. The S face of this return has another (arched) cellar door to ground level (this cellar is separate from the previous one). To the first floor is a small sash window (3/3) with a smaller window to its left, with modern frame. To the E side of the courtyard there is a small sash window, as before, directly above the carriage arch.

The façade (outside of the courtyard) is finished in lined render and unpainted. The courtyard façade is rendered and painted. The main roof is gabled and hipped and completely slated. Three rendered chimney stacks, two to gables of main front section and one to the (S) return.

The neighbouring dwelling is basically rectangular, (running along the entire N side of the original house), with a bay to the right of its N façade. It has a gabled and hipped slated roof, rough cast façade and windows of various sizes with mainly modern frames. The arrangement of the openings is irregular, though the building could not be described as vernacular.

Historical information

This house was built between 1836 and 1846, for it is not recorded in the first valuation but is listed in Slater’s directory of the latter year. The building undoubtedly originally related in some form to the Montalto estate and may have acted as an agent’s house, or as the residence of some other notable estate employee such as the head gardener. However, though the resident in 1846, one William McCully, may have fitted the above description, the occupant in 1856 was Rev David Edgar, the minister of Ballynahinch 2nd Presbyterian Church. The second valuation of c.1863 lists the resident as an Alexander Watson.

In c.1880-c.1900 the house to the north side was added, probably as another estate worker’s dwelling.

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 Linen Hall Library ‘Slater’s National Commercial Directory of Ireland’ (Manchester 1846), p.442
3 PRONI and Linen Hall Library ‘Belfast and Province of Ulster Directory’ Vols.1-21, 1852-1900, (Belfast, Henderson [1852-65], Belfast News-Letter [1865- ])
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

A. Style
B. Proportion
H-. Alterations detracting from building
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Substantial, single storey house of c.1840 large rear returns and slight Regency overtones, possibly built for a senior employee, or land agent, of the Montalto estate. The property is abutted to the north side by a smaller informal dwelling probably dating from c.1880-1900.