Hayshed, sheds and barn to north-west side of Finnebrogue estate farmyard

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Long mixed line of mainly single storey farm barns / sheds, consisting of a 20th century open lean-to hayshed, a row of rubble-built gabled sheds, now partly open, and a large corrugated-metal (again partly open) barn. The more recent buildings have replaced earlier part pre 1834, part pre 1858 structures. The buildings are part of the now largely disused Finnebrogue estate farmyard, a large complex built in various stages from (perhaps) c.1790s, to the mid 1900s. They are situated on the NW side of the complex, backing unto a high boundary wall, with Killyleagh Road on the opposite side. The farmyard is located on the SE side of Killyleagh Road, roughly two miles N of Downpatrick.

To the S end of the line is a long open lean-to hayshed with corrugated-metal roof and narrow cast iron supporting columns. This structure is built on the site of a slightly taller pre 1834 gabled structure, the outline of whose gable can still be seen on the NE elevation of the ‘granary’ building to the S.

To the immediate N of the hayshed is a single storey row of rubble-built gabled sheds, probably dating from some time between 1834 and 1858. A short section of the S end these sheds is largely original with some dilapidated doorways and window openings, but the majority of sheds (to N of this) have been radically altered, with the original rubble front elevations demolished, with some sheds now fronted in corrugated-metal and others (to far N) completely open, with cast iron columns as hayshed. The roof of the sheds is slated.

To the N end of this whole row is a relatively large early to mid 20th century corrugated-metal clad barn, which is partly open to front. The lower half of the NE elevation of this barn is in random rubble, which probably belonged to an early pre 1858 structure.

Historical information

The Finnebrogue estate farm
The early development of the Finnebrogue estate farm is unclear. The earliest extant plan of the complex is that supplied on the OS map of 1834, which shows much of the long range of buildings straddling the boundary wall to the north-west side, the large stable to the south-east of this, the house east again, the smaller house to the south end of the yard, and the large threshing barn, (with horse walk next to it), to the east of the long range. It is difficult to ascertain when these buildings appeared. The 1838 valuation grades some buildings ‘A’ (possibly built in the previous 25-30 years) and ‘B’ (possibly over thirty years old), implying that the complex witnessed various periods of development. Industrial archaeologist Dr Fred Hammond has suggested that much of the construction work may have taken place shortly after the refurbishing of Finnebrogue House itself, i.e. c.1795-1800, and that the creation of a ‘model’ farmyard may have been intended.

Map evidence shows that between 1834 and 1858 the long north-west range was extended northwards, with the large cow shed, corn store (with drying kiln), steam engine house and chimney grouping- a collection of structures all geared towards the feeding of cattle- built to the north-east, with the single storey range to the south, (opposite the large stable), also added to the site. Plans within the Perceval-Maxwell Papers at PRONI (see refs below) show that the large ‘cattle-feeding’ grouping to the north-east was built around 1854.

Between 1859 and 1900 the single storey stable block to the far east side of the complex appeared along with the single storey shed to the immediate east of the threshing barn, the brick gate house was built to the north side of the south gateway and a building (now demolished) was added to the very north-east corner of the yard. Unfortunately the valuation revision books give little indication of exact dates of construction or the original functions of each building.

In the early 20th century a long single storey side was added to the north side of the old threshing barn, circular grain silos erected to the north end of the yard (but now demolished), and two metal-framed Dutch barns built just to the north of the large stables (also demolished). In the course of the 1900s many of the buildings became adapted to new farm uses. Much of the long north-west range was demolished at some point and partly replaced with a corrugated-metal roofed lean-to structure.

In the latter decades of the century the complex appears to have fallen into disuse. It was sold to the present owner in c.1990-91. Since then the large house to the south-east has been refurbished, along with the smaller dwelling to the south-west. Some of the farm buildings are currently used as stores.

Hayshed, sheds and barn to north-west
The present lean-to hayshed is probably early to mid 20th century. It stands on the site of a long gabled building, shown on the OS map of 1834. The sheds to the north of this appear to have been built some time between 1834 and 1858, but were much altered at some point, again probably in the early to mid 1900s. The corrugated-metal clad barn is probably early to mid 20th century also; it stands on the site of another pre 1858 structure, part of the north-east wall of which has been incorporated into the barn itself.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI T.1023, D.1556, D.2480, D.3244, D.3817, D.4218 Perceval-Maxwell Papers, 1606-1969 [Of particular interest are D.1556/11/21, a mid 19th century plan of the farmyard, and D.1556/11/5 & 16, plans of the ‘cattle-feeding’ complex dating from 1854.]
2 Walter Harris, ‘The ancient and present state of the County of Down’ (Dublin, 1744), p.39
3 ‘Taylor’s and Skinner’s maps of the roads of Ireland’ (Dublin, 1777), map 282
4 PRONI OS/6/3/31/1 6in OS map, Co Down, sh 31, 1834
5 PRONI VAL.1B/372 First valuation, Inch parish, 1838
6 ‘Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland’ vol.17, ed Angelique Day and Patrick McWilliams (QUB, 1992), pp.74-75
7 PRONI OS/6/3/31/2 6in OS map, Co Down, sh 31, 1858
8 PRONI VAL.2B/3/74 Second valuation notebook, Inch Parish, 1861
9 PRONI VAL.12B/18/13a-d Annual valuation revision books, 1864-79, 1880-97, 1898-1911, 1912-29
10 PRONI OS/6/3/31/3 6in OS map, Co Down, sh 31, c.1901

Secondary sources
1 ‘Archaeological survey of Co. Down (Belfast, HMSO, 1966), pp.362-63 etc.
2 Fred Hammond, ‘Farmyard, Finnebrogue estate, Downpatrick, Co Down’ [Survey report for EHS, September 1991]
3 Anthony Malcomson, The Perceval-Maxwell Papers- Introduction (1998) [Available at PRONI]

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Long mixed line of mainly single storey farm barns / sheds, consisting of a 20th century open lean-to hayshed, a row of rubble-built gabled sheds, now partly open, and a large corrugated-metal (again, partly open) barn. The more recent buildings have replaced earlier part pre 1834, part pre 1858 structures. The buildings are part of the now largely disused Finnebrogue estate farmyard, a large complex built in various stages from (perhaps) c.1790s, to the mid 1900s. They are situated on the NW side of the complex, backing unto a high boundary wall, with Killyleagh Road on the opposite side. They are of little architectural interest.

General comments

In the first survey this record was numbered HB18/18/057.