16 Tansy Lane

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A single-storey, three-bay hearth-lobby type vernacular dwelling with adjoining linear outbuildings predating 1830. Located at the end of a long lane off Tansy Lane, approximately 1.5 miles northeast of Upper Ballinderry.

Pitched corrugated roof with skews over right gable; brick chimneys; uPVC rainwater goods fixed to timber fascia boards. Rough-cast walling, lime rendered to the rear. 2/2 timber sliding sash with horizontal glazing bars and horns. Timber sheeted front door.

The principal elevation faces south and is asymmetrically arranged. The front entrance is located right of centre with two windows to the left and one window to the right.

The left gable is abutted by slightly lower linear outbuildings; generally rubble stone with corrugated tin roof; various openings throughout. Further adjoining outbuildings running at right-angles north and south; of various styles and quality added at a later date.

The rear elevation is asymmetrically arranged with a single opening to the right; enlarged window centrally located. Single-storey flat-roofed abutment to the right bay extending across the north face of the outbuildings to the right.

The right gable is blank.

Setting:

Adjacent to the vernacular buildings is a large two-storey modern dwelling. Largely overgrown vegetation surrounding and obscuring the cottage on approach. Views across open rural landscape.

Roofing: Corrugated tin
Walling: Roughcast/lime render
Windows: Timber sliding sash
RWG: uPVC

Historical information

Ballinderry parish was described by Lewis’s 1837 survey as a fertile agricultural area with some cottage industry, “The land is almost all arable and in a good state of cultivation; the system of tillage is improving. There is little or no waste land; in the north-east and south-west parts of the parish are some valuable bogs. The weaving of linen and cotton affords employment to a considerable number of persons, but the greater number of the inhabitants are engaged in agriculture” (Lewis, p.112) Ordnance survey maps show that the area has remained rural, with scattered farms and small settlements in a largely agricultural setting.

The current house is sited within the better arable land in the district, lying between the 100 foot and 300 foot contours, the land below 100 feet being liable to flooding in winter and that above 300 feet running to pasture, furze and rough grazing. The whole area was subject to a decline in population during the second half of the nineteenth century when a drift began from rural districts into Belfast. In many cases, only the older generation remained to work the farmland, although the population began to stabilise around the turn into the twentieth century. The current house is an example of the hearth-lobby type which is prevalent in this area and throughout much of central and south-west Ulster. (Ulster Folklife Society)

A building, approximating to the plan form of the present dwelling, is shown on the first edition OS map of 1832. The house was not deemed to be sufficiently high in value to be included in the Townland Valuation (1828-40). It was situated slightly to the north of a rath which had been removed by the second edition of 1858 and was captioned ‘Site of Fort’. In Griffith’s Valuation (1862) the house is listed as the residence of John Larmour and is valued at £1.10s. Over five acres of land are attached to the property and the farm is leased from local landowner, the Marquess of Hertford, later Sir Richard Wallace. The farm remained in the Larmour family until 1874 when it was taken over by Henry Quigley. (Griffith’s Valuation; Annual Revisions)

By the time of the third edition OS map of 1900-01 the house had been extended by the addition of a single-bay outbuilding to the east. The 1901 census indicates that the house was thatched at that time and had three rooms. 72-year-old Henry Quigley was a farmer who lived with his wife Abigail. By 1908 he appears to have died and the house has passed to his widow. Although there are no changes in occupier listed up to 1929, the house is not identifiable in the 1911 census and may have been vacant at the time.

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/1/63/1 – First Edition OS Map 1832
2. PRONI OS/6/1/63/2 – Second Edition OS map 1858
3. PRONI OS/6/1/63/3 – Third Edition OS Map 1900-01
4. PRONI OS/6/1/63/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map 1920-1
5. PRONI VAL/12/B/8/1A-E – Annual Revisions (1863-1929)
6. Griffith’s Valuation online (1862)
7. 1901 census online
8. 1911 census online

Secondary Sources

1. Lewis, Samuel. “A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland” London: S. Lewis & Co., 1837
2. Ulster Folklife Society “Field Excursions in Ulster, Ballinderry and district, County Antrim” Holywood: Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, 1982

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A single-storey, three-bay hearth-lobby type vernacular dwelling with adjoining linear outbuildings predating 1830. Generally in poor condition. Although the principal elevation retains its style and proportion, its vernacular character has been compromised by rough-cast cement rendering and flat-roofed additions and an adjacent modern dwelling has significantly altered the setting. It does not meet the criteria for listing and there are better examples of vernacular dwellings listed in the area.