Rockbrook House

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A symmetrical three-bay, two-storey house, built c.1830, located to the east of Temple Road, east of Upper Ballinderry. Rectangular-on-plan with two-storey return, built c.1840 and single-storey extension built c.2000 to internal angle at rear.

Pitched natural slate roof with ridge crestings, rectangular smooth rendered corbelled chimneystacks each with three octagonal decorative clay pots; half-round cast-iron rainwater goods. Walling is roughcast lime rendered. Windows to principal elevation at ground floor are 2/2 horizontally divided timber framed sliding-sash contained within paired round-arched headed openings with moulded architrave terminating at moulded stop at centre; painted projecting masonry sill; 1/1 at first floor contained within elliptical-arched headed openings with projecting masonry sill and plain painted reveals (windows at first floor are diminutive). Window at rear are square-headed 1/1 timber framed sliding-sashes with projecting masonry sills.

The principal elevation faces south and is three-bays wide; ground floor having central raised panelled timber door with brass knob, knocker and letter box; elliptical-arched radial fanlight; raised pilasters; side panels and horizontally divided sidelights all contained within elliptical-arched headed opening with moulded architrave and key block supporting brass downlight; accessed by single stone step. Entrance is flanked by paired round-arched headed window openings; three windows at first floor.

West gable is blank and faces directly the east elevation of a perpendicular outbuilding. The entry between the two buildings leads to an access into a modern extension at north.

Rear elevation is abutted at east by two-storey return with same roof detailing as principal block. Internal angle between two-storey return and adjacent outbuilding at west is abutted by a modern single-storey extension with flat roof. Two windows at left at first floor exposed section, (two square-headed 2/2 horizontally divided sliding sash windows at ground floor remain intact). The return two windows at right at first floor exposed section, (window at left and timber sheeted glazed door at right at ground floor remain intact). Return north gable comprises offset external gable chimneystack. Return east elevation comprises two square headed enlarged uPVC windows at ground floor, two round-arched headed at first floor.

Single-storey extension with flat roof has uPVC window and door at north and uPVC rainwater goods.

This house is set in a rural location with two perpendicular aligned earlier outbuildings at west, and barn at south-west and lane connecting to Temple Road at west. Various early outbuildings have been extended and largely rebuilt at north. A paved forecourt at south is accessed through wrought-iron entrance gates at west supported on square roughcast piers with pyramidal stone caps.

Roof: Pitched natural slate
Walling: Painted roughcast render
Windows: Timber-framed sliding sash and uPVC
RWG: Cast-iron half-round

Historical information

Rockbrook House appears on the first edition of the Ordnance Survey map in 1832, an extensive complex of seven small buildings. The Townland Valuation of the 1830s recorded that Rockbrook was occupied by William C. Brown and that the main house on the site was a 1B class dwelling measuring 29 ft by 22 ft and 13 ft high. Two smaller houses were also listed each valued at less than £1. The out offices attached to the house included a barn, byre, cow house, a piggery and a potato house. The entire farm was valued at £7. 15s. 5d.

In 1857 the second Ordnance Survey map depicted some alteration to Rockbrook house. Where there had previously stood seven similar sized buildings, in 1857 the farmstead was comprised of four larger buildings and three small out offices. The contemporary Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64) slightly decreased the value of the house to £6. Five small houses and offices were also recorded at varying values all under £1. In 1878 the house came into the possession of William Cambridge who resided there until 1883 when a James Johnston briefly resided in the house before himself being replaced in 1885 by George Usher. In 1885 all the smaller houses and offices were taken down except one house valued at £1. The third edition Ordnance Survey map (1900-01) depicts a much altered farmstead; the property by now consisted of 3 large structures arranged so as to contain a small courtyard within. George Usher resided in Rockbrook until the Annual Revisions ended in 1929.

Census Records tell us that in 1901 George Usher, a 84 year old widowed farmer, lived at Rockbrook with his two sons and two daughters. The house was recorded as a 2ns class dwelling consisting of nine inhabited rooms. The out offices attached to the farm included a stable, cow house, calf house, dairy, piggery, fowl house, boiling house, barn, a potato house and a shed. By 1911 Usher’s son (also named George) had taken over the house after his father’s death. His brother John Edward and his sister Caroline Victoria Usher helped him look after the large farmstead. The farm remains occupied by a member of the Usher family.

Rockbrook House was listed in August 1983. In 1984 a plan proposing alterations to the dwelling were submitted, however, it was not until 1987 that these renovations were carried out (NIEA File). A single-storey extension was added to the house c.2000.

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI VAL/1/A/1/63 – Field Map c.1830
2. PRONI VAL/1/B/167 – Townland Valuation
3. PRONI OS/6/1/63/1 – First Edition OS Map 1832
4. PRONI OS/6/1/63/2 – Second Edition OS Map 1857
5. PRONI OS/6/1/63/3 – Third Edition OS Map 1900-1901
6. PRONI OS/6/1/63/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map 1920-1921
7. PRONI VAL/2/B/1/58 – Griffith’s Valuation 1859
8. PRONI VAL/12/B/8/1 A – Annual Revisions 1863-1879
9. PRONI VAL/12/B/8/1 B – Annual Revisions 1880-1888
10. PRONI VAL/12/B/8/1 C – Annual Revisions 1888-1901
11. PRONI VAL/12/B/8/1 D – Annual Revisions 1902-1912
12. PRONI VAL/12/B/8/1 E – Annual Revisions 1913-1929

NIEA file – HB19/01/048

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

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A symmetrical three-bay, two-storey house, built c.1830, located to the east of Temple Road, east of Upper Ballinderry. Rectangular-on-plan with two-storey return, built c.1840 and single-storey extension, built c.2000 to internal angle at rear. Detailing of the south principal elevation in particular is of a high standard and despite some internal alterations the retention of the principal fenestration has maintained the historical and architectural significance of this late Georgian house. It also retains a good rural setting.