189 Ballynahinch Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A two-storey four-bay asymmetrical late eighteenth century rendered farmhouse with outbuildings, located to the north side of Ballynahinch Road near Dromara. Rectangular on plan with double-height return and single-storey extension to rear.

Pitched natural slate roof with replacement brick chimneystacks. Replacement cast-iron and plastic rainwater goods. Walling is painted ruled-and-lined render; trompe l'oeil rustication to quoins. Windows are a variety of replacement timber and uPVC; original windows are 8/8 timber-framed sliding sash with horns and projecting masonry sills.

The principal elevation faces east and is asymmetrically arranged being four openings wide. Both ground and first floor windows to right are uPVC replacements; remainder are original. The main entrance door to right of centre is also replacement uPVC.

The south elevation is blank.

The west elevation has double-height return under catslide roof to right, containing two small original sashes with out sills to right and single replacement timber-framed window to left; abutted to gable by single-storey extension; left cheek has replacement four-panelled timber door. To left of return are original sashes: 6/6 at each floor to right and a 2/2 to first floor left.

The north elevation is blank; abutted to west by tall masonry wall connecting to gable of outbuilding.

Setting:
Situated in a rural location at the junction of Ballynahinch Road, Hillsborough Road and Dromara Road. Enclosed yard to rear with a variety of rendered and white-washed rubble stone outbuildings. Entrance to rear yard from Dromara Road via whitewashed rubble stone walls with high gate piers having pointed masonry caps; corrugated sheet metal covers the original wrought iron gates. To west is entrance from Ballynahinch Road; replacement cement rendered gate piers with pointed caps supporting replacement farm gate.

Outbuildings in main yard have slate roofs, some having original timber doors; stables and hay-barn to south with external steps and original half-doors; barn to north has original carriage entrance to left gable. Original wrought-iron gates lead to further yard to west; outbuildings with slate roof and corrugated sheet metal doors. A cast iron water pump and well in rear yard are situated to the North of the rear entrance.

Roof: Pitched natural slate
Walling: Ruled-and-lined render
Windows: 8/8 sliding sash and replacements
RWG: Replacement cast-iron and plastic

Historical information

No. 189 Ballynahinch Road appears on the first Ordnance Survey map for the area (1833) where it is depicted as an L-shaped building situated along the road between Dromore and Ballynahinch. A large oblong out office is shown at the rear of the house. The Townland Valuation tells us that the building was a Grocery shop in the 1830s occupied by a Mr. James Chambers. The site was valued at £11. 2s. 11d. which included the out offices and a basement and store. By the second edition of the Ordnance Survey maps in 1859 the rear out office appears to have been split into two buildings.

Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64) slightly raises the house value to £12. and tells us that James Chambers let the building from the Rev. Edward Smith, Bishop of Down and Connor. James Chambers occupied the house until his son Archibald took over possession in 1907. The 1901 Census records that James Chambers (born c. 1827) continued to work as a farmer and grocer, living at the farm with his wife Margaret (55) and their children who assisted their father in the grocers shop. The shop was recorded as a 1st class property consisting of nine inhabited rooms and a number of out offices to the rear of the building including a stable, a cow house, three calf houses, a dairy, six piggery’s, two fowl houses, a boiling house, a barn, a potato house, a shed and a store. The Chambers likely sold much of their own produce from their farmstead.

By 1901 the third edition of the Ordnance Survey map shows that the out office at the rear of the house had been greatly extended, accommodating the many out offices and livestock that the family owned. James Chambers died in February 1905 leaving effects of £864. and possession of the house to his son Archibald Chambers (born c. 1876) (PRONI Wills Catalogue – 05/04/1905). The 1911 census does not record the grocers shop but simply describes the property as a dwelling and Archibald Chambers as a farmer; it records that Chambers lived with his wife, six children and his widowed mother. By 1911 a large number of the out offices noted on the 1901 census had been taken down and at that time the rear office buildings were used as a stable, two cow houses, a calf house, a piggery, a fowl house, a boiling house, a barn, a potato house and a shed.

Archibald Chambers bought the farm in 1909 and resided there until 1923 when a Mr. Richard Graham took over the property.

Information contained in the NIEA file indicates that the house was built c.1770 and renovated c.1820; the house was formerly used as a posting inn providing horses and supplies for travellers on routes such as between Belfast and Dublin. The shop operated up until the mid-20th century and 19th century shop fittings were still present in 1992 when the house was listed. Field research was unable to locate any evidence of the former shop.

References:

1. PRONI VAL/1/A/3/28 – Field Map c.1830
2. PRONI VAL/1/B/342 – Townland Valuation (1830s)
3. PRONI OS/6/3/21/1 – First Edition OS Map 1833
4. PRONI OS/6/3/21/2 – Second Edition OS Map 1859
5. PRONI OS/6/3/21/3 – Third Edition OS Map 1903
6. PRONI OS/6/3/21/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map 1919-1920
7. PRONI VAL/2/B/3/38 – Griffith’s Valuation 1861
8. PRONI VAL/12/B/41/16 A – Annual Revisions 1860-1863
9. PRONI VAL/12/B/41/16 B – Annual Revisions 1864-1879
10. PRONI VAL/12/B/41/16 C – Annual Revisions 1880-1881
11. PRONI VAL/12/B/41/16 D – Annual Revisions 1882-1896
12. PRONI VAL/12/B/41/16 E – Annual Revisions 1897-1911
13. PRONI VAL/12/B/41/16 F – Annual Revisions 1912-1929
14. PRONI Wills Catalogue (1905)

Secondary Sources

1. NIEA File – HB19/07/016.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
D. Plan Form
H-. Alterations detracting from building
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

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

Evaluation

A late 18th century asymmetrical two-storey four-bay farmhouse in a rural setting on an important and prominent junction. Despite the insertion of inappropriate uPVC windows and entrance door this house retains its essential character and proportions. The trompe l'oeil quoins are an unusual feature. The rubble stone and white-washed outbuildings together with a cast iron water pump add interest to this late 18th century house. It is of particular interest as it was formerly a posting inn providing horses and supplies for travellers on routes such as between Belfast and Dublin. It was also a shop until the mid twentieth century.