(Site of) silos and barn at Finnebrogue estate farmyard

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Site, at the north end of the Finnebrogue estate farmyard, formerly occupied by some circular corrugated-metal grain silos of the early 1900s and by a modern Dutch barn. These structures, which were demolished some time after 1991, were part of a complex built in various stages from (perhaps) c.1790s, to the mid 1900s. The farmyard is located on the SE side of Killyleagh Road, roughly two miles N of Downpatrick.

There appear to have been six silos in all prior to 1975, five of which were arranged in a crescent formation. Four of the silos were demolished between 1975 and 1991. Two of the silos were still standing in 1991, with the ground on which they stood now largely reclaimed by grass. The Dutch barn, which was built some time in the early to mid 20th century on the site of a 19th century building, was demolished some time after 1991 as well and its site is now also largely grass covered.

Historical information

The Finnebrogue estate farmyard
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, (there was a horse walk next to it), to the east of the long range. It is difficult to say 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, 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 corrugate-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.

The grain silos and Dutch barn to north
The Dutch barn was built some time in the early in mid 20th century, replacing an earlier building on the same site which appeared some time between 1858 and 1900. The grain silos were built in the early 1900s. Four of the six silos were demolished between 1975 and 1991, with the remainder removed (along with the barn) some time after this [?1992].

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

Site, at the north end of the Finnebrogue estate farmyard, formerly occupied by some circular corrugated-metal grain silos of the early 1900s and by a modern Dutch barn. These structures, which were demolished some time after 1991, were part of a complex built in various stages from (perhaps) c.1790s, to the mid 1900s.

General comments

In the first survey this record was numbered HB18/18/056.