93 Ballynahinch Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A vacant two-storey three-bay house with filling station built c.1860 with 20th century modifications, located to the south side of Ballynahinch Road on the outskirts of Dromara. Rectangular on plan with single-storey gabled return to rear.

Pitched natural slate roof with blue/black angled ridge tiles and stone verges; two smooth rendered gable chimneystacks. Cast-iron rainwater goods with hopper on dentilled eaves. Walling is ruled-and-lined render with quoins; roughcast render to gables and rear; gables with smooth render to top section. Windows are 1/1 timber-framed sliding sash with horns; keyblock detail and projecting sills to main elevation; those to rear in painted smooth rendered surrounds; modern timber-framed windows to rear return.

The principal elevation is asymmetrically arranged and faces north. To first floor are three windows; replacement entrance door to right of centre at ground floor; to right is window; to left is shop front with large single-paned windows to either side of double-leaf timber-sheeted door with transom light.

The east elevation has, to left, a timber-framed modern window to ground and first floor.

The south elevation has, to left, two windows to first floor and single window to ground floor; abutted at right by single-storey return. Return has modern half-panelled door to gable; east cheek with two windows; west cheek with large window.

The west elevation has a single window to first floor.

Setting:

Set back from the road with small garden to front; lane to east leads to commercial yard to rear. Garden to rear enclosed by mature trees.

Roof: Pitched natural slate
Walling: Ruled-and-lined render
Windows: 1/1 sliding sash
RWG: Cast-iron

Historical information

This dwelling located in the Townland of Derry, west of Ballynahinch, first appears on the first edition Ordnance Survey map of 1833 where two oblong buildings are depicted.

The house does not appear in the Townland Valuations of c. 1830, however by 1861 John Nelson, a local farmer, was recorded as occupant. The current two-storey farmhouse was constructed around this time when Griffith’s Valuation listed the immediate Lessor of the site as James Graham and valued the house and its current east outbuilding at £1 10s. The house remained in the possession of the Nelson family until at least the mid 1870s when John Nelson and his wife became members of Dromara Reformed Presbyterian Church (Hanna). John Nelson had vacated the house by 1901 as he is not recorded on the census for Derry. It is not known who came into possession of the house after Nelson. The second edition of the Ordnance Survey map for the area (1859) shows that a second outbuilding was constructed to the west of the current house, however this has been taken down and does not appear from the 1975 Ordnance Survey map.

Later changes to the house include the addition of a single-storey rear return in the mid-20th century at the same time when the front dining room of the house was converted into a shop front for a filling station constructed at the farm (c. 1950s). The oblong out office located to the west of the farmhouse and which appears from the earliest Ordnance Survey maps has survived and is currently used as a garage and shed; however the farmhouse is currently lying vacant, the shop long abandoned and the interior in a state of dilapidation.

References:

1. PRONI OS/6/3/28/1 – First Edition OS Map 1833
2. PRONI OS/6/3/28/2 – Second Edition OS Map 1859
3. PRONI OS/6/3/28/3 – Third Edition OS Map 1903
4. PRONI OS/6/3/28/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map 1903-1920
5. PRONI VAL/2/B/1/36 – Griffith’s Valuation 1861
6. Census of Ireland 1901 / 1911
7. Ordnance Survey map 203-8 (1975)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A two-storey three bay house built c.1860 with later modifications, altered in the mid-20th century to create filling station. Located to the south side of Ballynahinch Road on the outskirts of Dromara. Although an interesting example of the once common rural practice of incorporating the business and dwelling, the building has lost some of its historic character as a result of 20th century alterations and is not considered worthy for listing.