Winter Hill

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A single and two-storey rubble stone farmhouse with outbuildings, built c.1830, possibly raised at a later date and located on an elevated position down a long private lane northwest of Mullaghdrin Road on the outskirts of Dromara. Rectangular on plan with porch to east.

Pitched natural slate roof with blue/black angled ridge tiles and brick chimneystacks. Thatch under tin to roof of north extension. No rainwater goods. Walling is rubble stone with vestiges of limewash and lime render. Windows are 2/2 exposed-box timber-framed sliding sash having horizontal glazing bars.

The main elevation faces east. Right bay is abutted by a deep gabled porch with timber-sheeted entrance door(having replacement handle) and tiled step; single timber casement window to south wall ; water pump to north wall ; left of main elevation is a window to first and ground floor.

The south elevation is abutted to ground floor by gabled extension; extension has window to east elevation.

The west elevation has two windows to each floor.

The north elevation is abutted by single-storey extension; extension has window to east and west elevation. Extension is abutted to north by slated outbuilding.

Variety of rubble stone outbuildings arranged in a U-shape to front of house creating central yard. Most have corrugated tin roofs.

Setting:

Situated on an elevated site overlooking farmland to all sides. Accessed via long single-track lane from main road. Wrought-iron farm gate to north leads to yard; kitchen garden to south enclosed by mature hedgerow and trees. Modern garage to east. A single-storey dwelling has been built to the east of the site, accessed via the same lane.

Roof: Pitched natural slate
Walling: Rubble stone
Windows: 2/2 sliding sash
RWG: None

Historical information

This farmhouse, known as ‘Winter Hill’, first appears on the Ordnance Survey map of 1834 as an oblong building, which possessed two small square shaped outbuildings to its north-east, situated in the townland of Moydalgan. In 1834 the farmhouse was uncaptioned on the map, however a farmhouse in the property to its east (now demolished) was recorded as ‘Winter Hill’ from the first edition of the Ordnance Survey suggesting a relationship between the two properties. The contemporary Griffith's Valuation of 1861 records that the farmhouse and its offices were valued at £1 5s. in that year and were let by a Mr. William McKay from the Marquis of Downshire; the adjoining ‘Winter Hill’ was occupied by a Mr. William Corbett between 1861 and 1902.

Soon after Corbett vacated ‘Winter Hill’ this neighbouring farmyard was demolished (although some of the outbuildings still remained by the fourth edition of the map in 1920). As ‘Winter Hill’ was demolished the adjoining farm, previously owned by McKay, was increasing in size. In 1901 the house was no longer occupied by William McKay, however it is not known who occupied the farm at this time. By c. 1901 an oblong outbuilding to the north-west of the house had been constructed, while the two small north-east out offices of 1834 were replaced with (or incorporated into) a replacement L-shaped farmbuilding at some time after 1920; this can be seen on the current Ordnance Survey map as early as 1974 when the farm was first recorded as ‘Winter Hill.’

Winter Hill was vacated by the current owners c. 1970 when a replacement single-storey dwelling was constructed to the east of the farm. Site inspection confirms that the north-west outbuilding first recorded in 1901 has been taken down; a portion of the roof of the north-east outbuilding has been replaced with corrugated tin; the original thatched roof of the north extension survives, however it is now also covered with a corrugated roof. The farmhouse itself is still used by the current owners as a storage farmbuilding. Few original features have survived, however field research suggests that the entrance porch dates from the original construction of the house c. 1830, an unusual feature for structures from this date.

References

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/3/22/1 – First Edition Ordnance Survey Map 1834
2. PRONI OS/6/3/22/1 – Second Edition Ordnance Survey Map 1859
3. PRONI OS/6/3/22/1 – Third Edition Ordnance Survey Map 1902-03
4. PRONI OS/6/3/22/1 – Fourth Edition Ordnance Survey Map 1919-20
5. PRONI VAL/2/B/3/36 – Griffiths Valuation 1861
6. Census of Ireland 1901 / 1911
7. Ordnance Survey Map 203-7 – 1974

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

R. Age
S. Authenticity
T. Historic Importance
X. Local Interest
Z. Rarity

Evaluation

Winter Hill is an interesting single and two-storey rubble stone farmhouse with outbuildings, built c. 1830 located in a largely unspoiled rural setting on a private lane on the outskirts of Dromara. The form of the house suggests that it may have originated as a single-storey dwelling, later partially raised and slated. The oversized porch is unusual in this type of dwelling, and adds to the character of the dwelling. Set within its original farmyard with outbuildings, it is an interesting group of vernacular buildings. A good example of an increasing rare type of farmhouse, which has a largely unspoiled setting and is of significance to the heritage of Dromara.