1A AND 1B PORTMORE ROAD

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A two-storey four-bay former grain store, built c.1830, converted c.1890, located to the south side of Portmore Road, Lower Ballinderry. Rectangular on plan aligned east west with single-storey former house and modern single- and two-storey extensions at rear built c.1855; abutted at west by double-height former grain store built c.1830.

Pitched natural slate roof with raised verges; two corbelled chimney stacks are rendered brick, west chimneystack abutting former grain store is replacement blockwork. Cast-iron u-profile rainwater goods on raised eaves; uPVC to rear. Walling is painted roughcast render with smooth rendered painted plinth and various exposed cast-metal wall ties. Windows are 1/1 timber sliding sashes with exposed boxes with projected painted masonry sills.

Principal elevation faces north and comprises house at right containing central replacement timber panelled door and transom light accessed by three masonry steps, single window at each side; three equally spaced windows at first floor. Left bay (former public house) comprises central double-leaf timber sheeted door accessed by two masonry steps, replacement timber casement window at each side, central 2/2 horizontally divided timber sliding sash window with exposed box at first floor.

East gable contains central window opening at first floor (lower than principal elevation).

Rear (south) elevation is abutted by a series of single- and two-storey modern extensions of no interest and a single-storey former house at right built c.1820. Exposed area contains single window at left and two windows at right, (window at far right is a metal casement).

West is abutted by two-storey former grain store, built c.1830 (floor heights and fenestration are earlier, c.1830). This building has undergone considerable alteration including, new roof tiles with modern rooflights, replacement raised verge (blockwork), and complete removal of any internal structure and detail. Existing first floor windows remain intact; openings at ground floor have been altered. The building is further extended to the west by a single-storey cottage, recently refurbished and of no historical interest.

Attached single-storey two-bay former house at south is rectangular on plan, aligned north-south and divided into two rooms. Pitched natural slate roof with raised verges, single rendered brick chimney stack, rainwater goods removed. Walls are rendered rubble stone with brick quoins and window surrounds (most render now removed and stone exposed; stonework indicates south bay has been altered at east). East elevation contains painted timber-sheeted half-door with timber lintel at centre, two window openings (boarded) at right, single at left. Connection to two-storey former grain store is aligned with the east gable of the two-storey block and is accessed through square-headed opening containing vertically sheeted timber door. South gable is blank. West elevation is abutted by single-storey extension of no interest; single 6/6 timber sliding sash window at right with cast-iron protective vertical bars.

Setting:

The former grain store is situated at the crossroads of Lower Ballinderry and is enclosed by a timber fence at north and east. The north forecourt is tarmac and the garden is accessed at east through a pedestrian cast-iron gate. The single-storey house at west is accessed via two circular roughcast rendered piers with painted conical caps, supporting a painted cast-iron gate; this may have been the original entrance to this building complex.

Roof: Natural slate
Walling: Roughcast render
Windows: 1/1 timber sliding sash
RWG: Cast-iron u-profile; uPVC to rear

Historical information

Situated at the crossroads of Lower Ballinderry, this two-storey former grain store (known locally as ‘Child’s Corner’) appears on the first edition of the Ordnance Survey map for the area (1832) as a lengthy oblong building with two small out offices which have since been taken down. The Townland Valuation of c. 1835 lists the occupant as a Mr. Thomas Bell, who had replaced the previous resident Ralph Russell. The house was recorded as a 1C+ class dwelling measuring 52 ft by 22 ft and 18 ft in height. The out offices attached to the house included a number of stores, a barn kiln, and turf house; the total value of the site recorded at £17 16s.

The Ordnance Survey Memoirs (1832-38) state that the building was originally used as a corn kiln and store built in 1822 by a Mr. Harden Byrne, a grain merchant, ‘at a considerable expense.' The memoir states that the building came into the possession of Mr Ralph Russell who also dealt in the grain trade. The kilns stood two-storeys high, and the stores were divided into two sections, one four-storeys tall and the other three-storeys, all being slated (Ordnance Survey Memoirs Co. Antrim VII, Vol. 21).

Griffith’s Valuation (1859) split the property into two sections, a house, store and office worth £21 and a house and office worth £15, although it is unclear which units of the current property these described. Both properties were occupied by a Mr. Thomas Bell and let from the Marquis of Hertford. The length later passed to Henry A. Bell (an unknown relative of Thomas Bell); however by 1888 the site was occupied by Thomas McKeown who converted either part of the building into a public house in 1891, lowering the value of the site to £16. In 1898 a Miss Susana McCord occupied and purchased the property. In 1905 the public house was recorded as a ‘Licensed house shop’ when the value was once again lowered to £10; in the same year the value of the adjoining store houses was lowered to £5.

The property came into the possession of Edward Fletcher in 1907 who occupied the premises until 1929 when it passed to a Mr. Robert McGivern. The 1911 Census tells us that Edward Fletcher (35), a publican, lived at this property and operated the pub with his brother William Fletcher. The public house was recorded as a second class building which possessed a stable, a cow house, a fowl house and a number of stores amongst its out offices.

This former corn store and public house was listed in September 1977 when it was occupied by a J. C. Child who presumably gave the building its current name of 'Child's Corner'. In 1982 the property was converted from its use as a dwelling, shop, store and office into a restaurant named ‘La Gazell d’Or.’ By 2006 part of the property utilised as a post office was closed (NIEA File). A modern dwelling has been constructed abutting the west facing gable of the former grain stores.

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI VAL/1/A/1/62 – Field Map c.1830
2. PRONI VAL/1/B/167 – Townland Valuation
3. PRONI OS/6/1/62/1 – First Edition OS Map 1832
4. PRONI OS/6/1/62/2 – Second Edition OS Map 1858
5. PRONI OS/6/1/62/3 – Third Edition OS Map 1900-1901
6. PRONI OS/6/1/62/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map 1920-1921
7. PRONI VAL/2/B/1/58 – Griffith’s Valuation 1859
8. PRONI VAL/12/B/9/3 A – Annual Revisions 1867-1879
9. PRONI VAL/12/B/9/3 B – Annual Revisions 1880-1894
10. PRONI VAL/12/B/9/3 C – Annual Revisions 1894-1905
11. PRONI VAL/12/B/9/3 D – Annual Revisions 1906-19112
12. PRONI VAL/12/B/9/3 E – Annual Revisions 1913-1928
13. Census of Ireland 1901 / 1911
14. Ordnance Survey Memoirs Co. Antrim VII, Vol. 21 (1832-38)

Secondary Sources

1. NIEA File – HB 19/01/035

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
H-. Alterations detracting from building
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Z. Rarity
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

An early nineteenth century two-storey four-bay former grain store, built c.1830, converted c.1890, located to the south side of Portmore Road, Lower Ballinderry. Rectangular on plan aligned east-west with single-storey former house and modern single and two-storey extensions at rear built c.1855; abutted at west by double-height former grain store built c.1830. The fenestration of the attached outbuildings/houses is an important element contributing to the building's character. This is an unusual arrangement of early industrial buildings which serves as a reminder of the nineteenth century rural industry in the area and contributes significantly to the architectural heritage of the area.

General comments

Included in Lower Ballinderry Area of Village Character