3 Blackstaff Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Single storey vernacular gabled cottage of perhaps c.1850, with large modern extension to rear. The building is set on the S side of the Blackstaff Road on the S side of the small village of Clough.

The (N) front façade is asymmetrical. To the left of centre is the main entrance which has a four panelled front door with margined fanlight over. To the left is a window opening with sash window (6/6). To the right are two similar windows.

The W gable is blank.

The E gable has a narrow sash window to the right of centre and a further two windows, grouped as a pair, to the left. To the left of centre is a small first floor window opening with a modern frame. Merging with the left side is a modern flat roofed conservatory / sun room.

To the centre of the rear S elevation is a flat roofed extension with a small central modern window. The high parapet to the extension forms an upstand which encloses a small roof terrace. To the right of the extension are two small windows with modern frames. To the right is the S face of the conservatory / porch.

The walls are mainly finished in smooth painted render, with the front façade in lined render. The roof is covered with Bangor blue slate. Facing directly on to the roof terrace is a small gabled ‘dormer’ which contains an access door. Velux window to rear. To each of the gables is a rendered chimney stack. A similar stack sits on the ridge to the right of centre. Each gable is finished with rendered parapets

To the left side of the rear is a covered stone-lined well.

To the rear is long out building with a lean-to extension to the S side.

Historical information

A building is shown on this site on the OS map of 1834. It is uncertain whether this is substantially the same structure we see today for the valuation records state that it contained two dwellings. However, the present house may have been based around a remodelling of the 1830s building.

The present owner stated that she believed the house to date from c.1850 and that it was originally a residence for the master of a school which stood to the rear (and is now one of the outbuildings). No school is marked on the OS map of 1858, however, the positioning and appearance of the structure to the rear suggests that it was always an outbuilding.

The building appears to have been extended at the rear in the early to mid 20th century. It was further extended in more recent years [?c.1990] with the addition of the conservatory and roof terrace.

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 [The key on the map accompanying this valuation is so indistinct in relation to this building, that it is difficult to ascertain who lived in the property at this date.]

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

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

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Single storey vernacular gabled cottage of perhaps c.1850, with large modern extension and modern window frames to rear. A building of definite architectural and historic interest.