Mealmore Lodge

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Two storey gabled vernacular farm house probably dating from c.1838-39, set to the S side of the Trassey Road, 5.5 miles W of Newcastle, 3.5 SW of Bryansford. The property is flanked to the front by single storey outbuildings, largely enclosing what was once a farm yard.

The front façade faces roughly N. To the left of centre is a small gabled porch with a timber sheeted door. To the left of this is a small sash window (vertical glazing bars- 2 panes over 2) with painted on ‘in/out’ dressings. To the right of the doorway are two similar windows. To the first floor are four similar, but smaller windows, which are positioned in line with the ground floor openings.

The E gable has a small single storey shed/outbuilding with a corrugated asbestos covered mono-pitched roof, and (to front) a timber sheeted door and metal framed window. To the W gable is a larger single storey gabled section, which has been converted to a garage and has modern garage door to front. This section is abutted at a right angle by another single storey outbuilding with two timber sheeted doors to the E façade with accompanying small windows, a natural slated gabled roof and white washed façade.

The rear of the main house has a small window to ground floor right, as front windows but without ‘dressings’. To the right of this is another window with a modern two pane frame.

The façade is harled with whitewash to front along with the painted dressings. The roof is covered in natural slate, as is the roof of the garage section to the W. Rendered parapets to main roof. Two rendered chimney stacks (to gables). PVC rw goods.

To the E side of the former farm yard in front of the house, is a large one and a half storey former outbuilding, which now appears to be converted to living accommodation [?and a store room]. This has a natural slated gabled roof (with chimney stack), and is rough cast rendered and white washed. To its W façade are two, small four pane windows, with a tiny window high in the N gable. The entrance door is to the E.

Historical information

This house is believed to have been built between 1838 and 1839, at the same time as its immediate neighbour to the west. It was built by the McSpedden family, with Thomas McSpedden listed as owner in the second valuation of 1863 (with the building itself possessing the rateable value of £1-15-0).

The property is believed to have remained with the McSpeddens until c.1980. It is currently used occasionally as an activity centre.

The outbuilding to the east side of the house was added to the complex some time after 1859 (it may be early 20th century), but those to the west side appear to be original.

References- Primary sources
1 Deeds and other related documents in possession of the present owners of No.54 Trassey Road)
2 PRONI OS/6/3/49/3 OS maps 1st rev.1859, Co Down sheet 49
3 PRONI Second (Griffith’s) valuation records, Kilcoo (1863) [in print]

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

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

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Relatively small, two storey vernacular farm house of c.1838-39, with gabled entrance porch. This property appears to be largely original and has is flanked by single and one and a half storey outbuildings, a section of which appears to have been converted to living accommodation.