70 Trassey Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Two storey gabled vernacular farm house, probably of c.1840s, but much extended in recent years and now over twice its original size. The property set to the S side of the Trassey Road, 6 miles W of Newcastle, 4 miles SW of Bryansford.

The house consists of two distinct sections. That to the E is the original dwelling, with that to the W side the extension. The front façade of the extension is ‘set back’, as it follows the line of a group of original attached outbuildings, around which it was constructed.

The front façade faces roughly N. To the left of centre is a small lean-to porch with a timber sheeted door. To the left of this is a small sash window (vertical glazing bars- 2 panes over 2). To the right of the doorway is a similar windows. To the first floor are three similar, but smaller windows, which are positioned in line with the ground floor openings. The N façade of the extension is taller than that of the original, (in consequence of it being ‘set back’ but its roof ridge not heightened in the process). This portion of the façade has two windows to the ground floor and two to the first floor, close to the eaves. All these windows are similar to those to the front of the original house, but the first floor windows are set at a significantly higher level.

Both gables are irregularly shaped, due to the fact that to the rear, the roof is flat to its lower half (as the façade now climbs above the original eaves level across the whole of the façade). The rear façade itself has a modern, partly glazed, door, to ground floor left. With three modern windows to the right. To the first floor are four, relatively large, modern windows.

The façade is finished in unpainted rough cast. The gabled portion of the roof is covered in natural slate. Two rendered chimney stacks (to the original section). Cast iron rw goods.

The surrounding farm yard is covered consists of a large flat expanse of concrete.

Historical information

This house was built between 1834 and 1859. It is recorded in the second valuation of 1863 as the home of one James Skillen and possessing the (below) rateable value of 15 shillings. This low value could suggest that the house may have began life as a single storey dwelling, but was raised in height some time after 1863. The current owner stated that he had uncovered no physical evidence to support this however.

The property was greatly extended in 1982, when the large portion to the west side was constructed by enlarging and converted a group of attached outbuildings.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI OS/6/3/49/3 OS maps 1st rev.1859, Co Down sheet 49
2 PRONI Second (Griffith’s) valuation records, Kilcoo (1863) [in print]

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Two storey gabled vernacular farm house, probably of c.1840s, much extended in 1982 and now over twice its original size, and sporting modern openings and a flat roof to the rear. The surrounding farmyard is covered in a large flat expanse of concrete.