Mullaghdrin House

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A symmetrical one-and-a-half-storey three-bay detached Victorian stucco house, formerly a manse, built c.1860; located to the west side of Hillsborough Road north of Dromara. Rectangular on plan with two-storey projecting porch, two-storey and single-storey returns to rear.

Pitched natural slate roof with blue/black angled ridge tiles; painted render chimney stacks with four pots; overhanging eaves to gable. Plastic rainwater goods. Walling is painted ruled-and-lined render with raised quoins Windows are a variety of segmental-headed timber-framed sliding sash having horizontal glazing bars.

The principal elevation faces south and is symmetrically arranged; two-storey projecting gabled porch to centre, opening to east; paired mullioned 3/3 windows in moulded surround to either side; moulded box panel to first floor level. Porch with paired window to ground floor and single window (replacement) to first floor; exposed section to west has moulded box panel to first floor level; exposed section to east with raised-and-fielded six- panelled timber door having brass door furniture; surmounted by diminutive window and accessed by three stone steps enclosed by low parapet wall.

The west elevation has two windows to second floor and a replacement glazed timber door to centre at ground floor.

The north elevation has a single multi-paned opening to right and left at ground floor; to far right is single-storey return; exposed section to left with two doors and a window; exposed section to right with a single window. Central projecting porch contains window to first and ground floor; exposed section to left is blank; exposed section to right with replacement window to first floor and to right at ground floor.

The east elevation has two windows to first floor and two windows (to far left and right) to ground floor.

Setting:

Set in an elevated position in large mature grounds accessed from the Hillsborough road via a tree-lined driveway. Modern double garage to north; lawned to all sides and enclosed by mature hedgerow and trees.

Roof: Pitched natural slate
Walling: Ruled-and-lined render
Window: Timber-framed
RWG: Plastic

Historical information

Mullaghdrin House does not appear until the third edition of the Ordnance Survey maps in 1903 when it is recorded as a ‘Manse’ on the Hillsborough Road north of Dromara. It is depicted as an oblong building with a rear return and attached outbuilding; by 1920 there is no discernable alteration to the building on the fourth edition map and Mullaghdrin house currently maintains this original layout. From the maps it is clear that the Manse was erected before 1903, however, the Annual Revisions list the dwelling as early as 1865 where it is valued at £12, let by the Marquis of Downshire as a residence for the Rev. William John Patton minister of Second Dromara Presbyterian Church.

The Manse was occupied by Patton until 1896 when the Rev. John Logan, also of Second Dromara Presbyterian, is recorded as the new occupant. The 1901 Census tells us that Logan was born c.1864 and that he lived in Mullaghdrin House with his wife Anna Mary Logan (35) and their two sons. In 1901 the Census records the house as a second class dwelling with the family occupying 11 rooms. In 1909 the Rev. William J. Gregg took over the Manse and in the 1911 Census Gregg (30) is listed in the Manse with his newlywed wife Deborah (26). In that year the Manse possessed a number of out offices including a stable, a cow house and a barn which were housed in the rear outbuilding. Gregg lived in the Manse until 1923 when the Rev. Samuel C. McConnell took over the premises.

Brett suggests that the Manse was constructed around 1850, but a later date is more likely as the Manse is not listed in Griffith’s Valuation (1861), first appearing in 1865 (Brett, p. 140).

Mullaghadrin House was sold to its current owners in 1978. Although there have been few alterations to the interior of the house, the outbuilding recorded on the Ordnance Survey maps has since been replaced with a modern garage. The ex-Manse was listed in 1992. Brett tells us that Mullaghdrin house was examplatory of a style favoured by the Presbyterian Church for a generation and is remarkable as a former Manse which survives with very few alterations (Brett, p. 140).

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI VAL/1/A/3/28 – Field Map c.1833
2. PRONI VAL/1/B/341 – Townland Valuation
3. PRONI OS/6/3/28/1 – First Edition OS Map 1833
4. PRONI OS/6/3/28/2 – Second Edition OS Map 1859
5. PRONI OS/6/3/28/3 – Third Edition OS Map 1903
6. PRONI OS/6/3/28/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map 1903-1920
7. PRONI VAL/2/B/1/36 – Griffith’s Valuation 1861
8. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/9 A – Annual Revisions 1865-1879
9. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/9 B – Annual Revisions 1880-1892
10. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/9 C – Annual Revisions 1893-1908
11. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/9 D – Annual Revisions 1909-1929
12. Census of Ireland 1901 / 1911

Secondary Sources

1. Brett, C. E. B., ‘Historic buildings, groups of buildings, areas of architectural importance in the towns and villages of Mid Down: Hillsborough, Dromore, Dromara, Ballynahinch, the Spa, Drumaness and Saintfield’ Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1974.
2. Kelly, D., ‘Lisburn’s rich church heritage: Churches and places of worship in the Lisburn city area’ Lisburn: Impression Print and Design, 2009.
3. NIEA File – HB19/07/008.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

R. Age
S. Authenticity
X. Local Interest
Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance

Evaluation

A symmetrical one-and-a-half-storey three-bay detached Victorian house, formerly a manse, built c.1860 and set on a large mature site west of Hillsborough Road with unspoiled views over the surrounding countryside. Elegantly proportioned and detailed in the typical Victorian style, it retains most of its internal and external features and is a good example of a late nineteenth-century middle-sized country manse, enhanced by its elevated position in an unspoiled rural setting.

General comments

Listing criteria R & S also apply to the building.