Ballykilbeg House

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Large, plain and cube-like two storey gentleman’s residence of c.1791, with hipped roof and recently added (1993) flat roofed entrance porch. The building is set at the end of a relatively short drive to the E of Ballykilbeg Road, c.3 miles SW of Downpatrick.

The symmetrical front façade faces S. To the centre of the ground floor elevation is a flat roofed porch with panelled door to W and sash window to S. This window (and all other windows- unless stated otherwise) has horizontal glazing bars (2 panes over 2). The window to the E face of the porch is smaller and has a fixed light frame. This porch was added c.1994, replacing and Edwardian conservatory-like gabled example. The porch rests on splayed steps, belonging to the original doorway.

To the left of the porch are two windows (as S face of porch), with a further two to the right. To the first floor are five similar but slightly smaller windows. That to the centre is set in a shallow semicircular arch recess. This recess originally stretched to ground level, but is now obscured by the porch.

The shorter W façade has two windows to the centre and right on the ground floor, as front and three to the first floor, also as front. To the left on the ground floor is a modern partly glazed door with simple hood over. This opening does not look original.

The E façade has a similar arrangement as that to the W but with three windows to the ground and with blind window-like recesses to the first floor.

The rear façade is actually three storey for a moat-like ditch to this side reveals the basement level. To the centre at basement level is a small hipped roof porch with timber sheeted door and three pane fanlight. The walls of the porch are rubble-constructed and have remains of harling. To the right of the porch (on main façade there is evidence that a square window has been blocked.

To the ground floor there are four windows. That to left is as front. That to the centre is similar but has retained its Georgian panes (6/6) and is set in a shallow semicircular arched recess. Whilst to the right is a much smaller window with modern frame. The broad sill some distance below this window suggests it was originally as large as those to its left. To the right of this is an even smaller window with dilapidated modern frame

To the first floor are three windows, as first floor front but with Georgian panes (6/6) to those to left and centre. Just to the right of centre, close to the eaves, is a tiny single pane window.

The entire façade is plain rendered and painted. The rear façade, however, has not been painted for some years and is discoloured. To the front, E and W the building sits on a bevelled base. There are basement lightwells to E and W. The hipped roof is slated and has two central rendered chimney stacks (with long rows of matching octagonal pots). To the rear there is a small hipped roof dormer with sash frame (6/6). There are two similar dormers to E. Low parapet to front. The rw goods appear to be mainly cast iron.

Large grouping of two and single storey rubble-built outbuildings to rear.

Historical information

Ballykilbeg House was built in c.1791 by the Johnston family. It is recorded (with dimensions as today) in the 1836 valuation. Photographic evidence shows that most of the original Georgian glazing bars were removed in c.1880 and that the conservatory-like porch was possibly added in the early 1900s. The doorway to the west façade and the modern windows to the rear look as if they were inserted / altered in the 1950s-60s. In 1993-94 the front porch was demolished and a new flat roofed one added in its place.

Ballykilbeg house is probably remembered by many for the career of one of its former inhabitants, William Johnston MP, an important figure in Orangeism and County Down politics during the 1860s and 70s.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI OS/6/3/37/1 OS map, Down sh 37, 1834
2 PRONI VAL/1B/378 1st valuation, Down, 1836
3 PRONI OS/6/3/37/2 OS map, Down sh 37, 1858
4 PRONI OS/6/3/37/3 OS map, Down sh 37, 1901
5 Photographs in possession of the present owner

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

Large, plain and cube-like two storey gentleman’s residence of c.1791, with hipped roof and recently added (1993) flat roofed entrance porch. This building has retained its original footprint, and though a few openings to the rear have been altered, the façade is largely untouched. The sash windows had their original Georgian glazing bars removed c.1880. This well proportioned and relatively early house is of special architectural and historic interest.