Greenwood

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Substantial two storey gabled Georgian gentleman’s residence of c.1790 with large full height rear return. The property is set at the end of a drive to the N of Farranfad Road, roughly a mile NE of Seaforde, c.4 miles W of Downpatrick.

The front façade faces S and is symmetrical. To the centre of the ground floor is a panelled timber door with granite jambs and lintel. Beyond the jambs are large four pane sidelights and above the lintel is a large elliptical fanlight with ‘radial’ tracery. Splayed granite steps to doorway.

To the left of the doorway are two sash windows, each with vertical and horizontal glazing bars creating four square panes over four- (not strictly in Georgian fashion). To the right are two similar windows. To the first floor are five windows. The 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th windows are all roughly square and have sash frames. The arrangement of panes in these frames has an intangible late Edwardian / Charles Rennie Mackintosh feel, with two (vertical) panes to top and bottom sashes and a narrow band to the top of the upper sash with four small panes. To the centre of the first floor is a Palladian window with sash frames with odd squat panes to its central light (2/2, 7/4, 2/2). This window sits partly within a small gable (which breaks through the eaves).

The W gable is blank apart from two small sash windows (Georgian panes- 2/2) at basement level. The E gable has two basement windows, as before but larger (6/6). To the first floor right is a similar, but larger window. To the right this gable merges with the E face of the rear return. To the first floor of this section of the return there are two sash windows, as previous. To the ground floor there is a large (kitchen) window with a modern frame.

To the left of the rear elevation is the large two-storey return. This is in two distinct sections, (undoubtedly built at different stages), that to the left two storey and with a hipped roof and that to the right two and a half storey and with a gabled roof. The rear (N) face of the smaller hipped roof section has a large modern window (as previous) to left on the first floor, and a modern glazed door to the right. To the gable of the larger section there is a small window to left on the first floor, with modern frame. To the right is a modern looking French door. To the first floor are two small two-pane windows.
To the W face of this return there is a large tripartite sash window (2/2, 4/4, 2/2). The entire façade is finished in unpainted roughcast.

The gabled roof is slated and has parapets to the rear. Two rendered chimney stacks (to gables). Matching octagonal pots. Cast iron rw goods.

Single storey shed attached to NE corner of house. Yard to rear with single storey outbuildings.

Historical information

This house is believed to date from c.1790. It is shown on the OS map of 1834 as ‘Greenwood Farm’, with the main drive opening from the Drumgooland Road to the east. It is recorded in the contemporary valuation records. The return as we see it today was also present at this date, but its roof construction indicates that it was built in two stages. The valuers, who suggest that the property was indeed built in the late 1700s, give no hint concerning any an extension to the return, however. On the OS map of 1858 the present drive from the Farranfad Road is shown.

The current owner believes Greenwood was built by a Royal Naval surgeon named Mayford; the writers have not been able to confirm this but in 1836 it was home to a Rev. W. Moffat and in c.1860 was in the hands of ‘the representatives of Rev Horatio Moffat’. The Royal Naval connotations of the name Horatio could suggest that the Moffats were related to the original owner.
References- Primary sources
1 PRONI OS/6/3/37/1 OS map, Down sh 37, 1834
2 PRONI VAL/1B/387 1st valuation, Loughinisland, 1836
3 PRONI OS/6/3/37/2 OS map, Down sh 37, 1858
4 PRONI 2nd valuation, Loughinisland, c.1860 [in print]

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
H-. Alterations detracting from building
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Good quality substantial two storey gabled Georgian gentleman’s residence of c.1790 with large full height rear return.