Disused Signal Box

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Small, typical late Victorian / Edwardian picturesque gabled signal box, built into an embankment close to the side of a now filled in railway cutting The box dates from c.1897and was part of the former Tullymurry station grouping. It is sited just to the E of the former station to the N side of Ballydugan Road, c.4 miles SW of Downpatrick. The building is now used as a shed and much of its glazing is broken.

The structure has two levels, with the ground floor constructed in brick and the first floor in brick to the rear and glazed to the front. To the left W side is a set of stone steps which lead to the first floor.

The S front has a central recessed panel (with shouldered reveals) within which is a timber sheeted door, The door has a small view panel with metal bars. The E side is blank whilst the rear is built into the embankment and the W side is in brick but has a set of stone steps rising to first floor.

At the head of the steps is a left of centre plain sheeted door. To the left is a plain brick panel while to the right is fully glazed. Window frames are timber and appear to be fixed. The S face is fully glazed. The gable infill is timber sheeted. The E side has strip glazing, as before, to the left side, and a plain brick panel to the right side . The N face has a projecting chimneybreast to the centre but the brickwork is otherwise plain.

The roof is slated and has overhanging eaves and decorative with a tall wooden finial to the apex.

Historical information

This station to which this signal box belongs, was built in 1897, probably to designs by B&CDR engineer G.P. Culverwell. It replaced an earlier station of 1871 constructed a short distance to the north by the DD&NR, and was intended to cope with the increase in traffic to and from Ballykinlar army base. The goods sidings were extended for military traffic during WWI.

The station closed in 1950 and the signal box appears to have been used as a shed ever since.

Secondary Sources:
1 Desmond Coakham, Belfast & County Down Railway (Midland publishing Ltd, 1998), p.54

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

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

Criteria for listing: historic interest

V. Authorship
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Small, typical late Victorian / Edwardian picturesque gabled signal box, built into an embankment close to the side of a now filled in railway cutting The box dates from c.1897 and has group value with the former Tullymurry station grouping.