Clogher House

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Substantial, relatively plain two storey farmhouse of pre 1834 origin, but which was raised to its present height at some point after this, perhaps c.1870s-80s or later. The property is set on the E side of Old Course Road, less than a mile S of Downpatrick.

The symmetrical front façade faces roughly W. To the centre of the ground floor there is a large, relatively recent, gabled porch / conservatory. Within this there is the original elliptical headed doorway with glazed double doors, sidelights and an elliptical fanlight with decorative radial / spider-web tracery.

To the left of the porch are two windows with modern frames. To the right of the porch are two similar windows. To the first floor are six much smaller evenly spaced windows with similar frames. All the front façade windows have simple ‘baroque’ moulding underneath their sills (probably added in the early 1900s).

To the ground floor of the N gable there is a window with modern frame. The S gable is blank.

The rear elevation is in two sections with a third of the elevation to the right recessed. To the left on the ground floor there is a sash window with Georgian panes (6/6). To the left of this there is a large lean-to extension which stretches across much of the ground floor of the elevation and has modern windows and a modern glazed door. To the first floor (on main building) there are four small sash windows. The first three of these windows (from left) are plain, the 4th has margin panes and the 5th (which is to the recessed portion of the elevation and is slightly larger) is 2/2.

Almost all of the façade is finished in lined render and painted. The main roof is slated and has four evenly spaced yellow brick chimney stacks. The roof of the lean-to has an artificial covering with a Velux window. The rw goods appear to be a mixture of metal and PVC.

Historical information

A building of the same footprint as the present dwelling is recorded in the 1838 valuation. This building probably corresponds to the building we see today but was slightly lower at this point, the valuation recording its height as only 10ft. It is difficult to say when the roof was raised to its present level, the yellow brick chimneys and some of the internal detailing suggest late 19th century, (or even early 20th century) date, but other details such as the main entrance and the fire surround in the north bedroom have a mid 19th century appearance. It is difficult to be in any way certain on the matter without further evidence.

Much of the rear lean-to (which contains the kitchen), was added in 1968.

In 1838 a George Russell is recorded as the occupant. The property is still in the hands of his descendants.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI OS/6/3/38/1 OS map, Down sh 38, 1834
2 PRONI VAL/1B/378 First valuation, Down, c.1838
3 PRONI OS/6/3/38/2 OS map, Down sh 38, 1858
4 PRONI Second valuation, Down, 1863 (in print)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Substantial, relatively plain two storey farmhouse of pre 1834 origin, but which was raised to its present height at some point after this, perhaps c.1870s-80s or later. There is a modernised lean-to extension to the rear.