Newfield

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A substantial two-storey, three-bay plus one, hearth-lobby type stone farmhouse and outbuildings predating 1832, possibly originating from an earlier three bay single-storey dwelling. Located at the end of a long lane off Chapel Road, 1mile south of Upper Ballinderry.

Pitched natural slate roof with clay ridge tiles; cast-iron rainwater goods; chimneys not visable. Lime-rendered walling (largely eroded exposing field stone). 6/6 and 3/6 timber sliding sash windows, no horns; dressed stone cills; exposed red brick surrounds. Timber six-panelled door.

The front elevation faces north and is asymmetrically arranged. Small brick porch with lean-to roof located to right of centre; two windows to the right and single window to the left. Three diminished first floor windows. Course line present at first floor cill level on right hand bays suggesting enlargement (Date unknown). Far left bay added later, clear distinction in stone work, comprises single first floor window and bricked up opening to ground floor left hand side.

The left gable is blank.

The rear elevation is largely overgrown and obscured from view; various openings to ground and first floor throughout; red brick surrounds. Rear roof pitch largely deteriorated.

The right elevation is blank; formerly abutted by a single-storey outbuilding; now partially deteriorated.

Setting:

Located at the end of a long avenue secluded from the main road. Upon approach, gated circular piers formalise the entrance lined with trees to the farmyard. Numerous outbuildings, snecked rubble and of good workmanship abutting and adjacent to the farmhouse, arranged forming a yard to the front; access via gated piers. Buildings vary from completely derelict to moderately good condition. Generally gable ended, pitched natural slate on timber collar beam truss; field stone walling. Large modern agriculture unit to the rear. Orchard to the south. Open rural landscape to all aspects.

Roofing: Natural slate
Walling: Lime rendered/field stone
Windows: Timber sliding sash
RWG: Cast-iron

Historical information

This dwelling situated in the townland of Aghadavy can be first seen on the first edition Ordnance Survey map of 1832 where it was depicted as an oblong building which possessed the currently dilapidated office block to the northeast of the house, and the well maintained outbuilding to its north (both of which appear as early as 1832). In the 1830s the house was occupied by a Mr. Thomas Beckett, a local farmer, who let the property from the Marquis of Hertford. The Townland Valuation described the two-storey house as a 1b+ class dwelling which measured 38ft by 19.6ft and was valued at £4 10s. 11d. The single-storey range of out offices was valued at £1 10s 2d. and was of similar dimensions to the house measuring 46.6ft by 19.6ft although the middle section of this range has since been taken down. Beckett also possessed addition smaller farm offices including a potato house, a cow house, and a turf house. The entire farm was valued at £4 17s.

During the 1830s possession of the farm passed to Mr. John T. Beckett who was recorded as the sole occupant until 1859 when he and a Mr. William Beckett were noted as joint occupants of the farm which had been increased in value to £6. Griffith’s Valuation tells us that John and William Beckett let eight small houses (valued between £1 and 10 shillings) to a number of occupants; although it is not known whether these small houses were located in the farm.

In 1875 the value of the farm was split when a second house was recorded in the Annual Revisions; it is unclear if a new house was actually built or whether the range of offices were converted into a second house as there is no discernible alteration to the layout of the farm between the second and third editions of the Ordnance Survey maps (1857 – 1900). From 1875 John Beckett occupied a house valued £2 10s. whilst William Beckett resided in the larger or grander house valued at £3. 10s.

By 1894 William Beckett was recorded as the sole occupant of the farm, which once again consisted of a single house, revalued at £4. 10s. The 1901 Census tells us that Beckett (68) occupied the farm with his wife Anne (69) and their two sons, George (40) and Joshua Henry (27). The building return of that year described the farmhouse as a 1st class dwelling which consisted of seven rooms and possessed a stable, cow house, piggery, fowl house, potato house and a barn amongst its out office buildings. Beckett came into full ownership of the farm in 1906 when he purchased the property outright. With the death of his wife between 1901 and 1911 Beckett remarried in c. 1906 and lived at the farm with his son George and his new wife Elizabeth; there was little change to the farm during this period, however under George Beckett an additional dairy and boiling house were recorded amongst the farms out offices. William Beckett died in March 1917 at the age of 85; in his will Beckett left effects of £1,345 to his sons (PRONI Wills Catalogue – 11/07/1917). In 1921 the value of the farm greatly increased to £11 when the ‘offices [became] rateable;’ George Beckett continued to occupy the farm until the end of the Annual Revisions in 1929.

Field inspection reveals slight variation in masonry and mortar between floors, suggesting that the two-storey dwelling may have originated from an earlier single-storey structure which was formalised into its current Georgian design. The house and its outbuildings are currently lying abandoned and are falling into a state of disrepair, although the outbuilding to the north of the house has been well preserved.

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 1900-01
6. PRONI OS/6/1/63/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map 1920-1921
7. PRONI VAL/2/B/1/55 A – 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
13. Census of Ireland – 1901 / 1911.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A large two-storey, three- bay plus one, hearth lobby type stone vernacular farmhouse and outbuildings predating 1830. Externally the style and proportions are a good example of an early farm complex, with various historic developments. In its current state the external appearance of the farmhouse displays those characteristics resulting from 19th century formalising, however the building is likely to have originated from a three bay single-storey dwelling, with its traditional origins strongly evident. The quality of the outbuildings and the overall open rural landscape suggests a prosperous small holding, which add significant interest to the setting and historic value of the farmhouse. Unfortunately the house has lost a significant amount of historic fabric and detailing which diminishes its interest.