Oakhill

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A three-bay two-storey -over-basement twin bow-front detached house with outbuildings, built c.1825 and located south of the Hillhall Road, Lisburn. Rectangular on plan with three-storey box extension to rear.

Hipped natural slate roof with blue/black angled ridge tiles and two smooth rendered chimneystacks to centre. Aluminium ogee rainwater goods on projecting eaves. Walling is ruled-and-lined render with string course to plinth level and raised quoins. Windows are replacement uPVC casements.

The principal elevation faces south; twin bow-front symmetrically arranged three openings wide. To centre is modern porch with uPVC door; main entrance door is four timber-sheeted flat-panels with brass door furniture; flanked by semi-engaged fluted columns and corner pilasters; surmounted by entablature with metopes, triglyphs and cornice; transom light with ‘box’ glazing bars. Three windows to the first floor, and two to the ground floor.

The west elevation is two windows wide with asymmetrical fenestration (windows to left are lower); two windows to the first floor, two to the ground floor and four windows to basement, ; modern porch with uPVC door to centre; entrance door is half-panelled with transom light.

The north elevation is abutted to centre by three-storey box extension having a window to each floor at all elevations; two windows to first floor left; single window to first floor right. In total five windows to the first floor, two to the ground floor and three to the basement.

The east elevation has a window to first floor left, two windows to ground floor and three windows to basement.

To north of the house are a two-storey roughcast-rendered and slated coach-house and stable-block, with a loft above, and a partially cobbled yard in front. The coach-house has a segmental-headed coach entrance at left containing replacement timber-sheeted doors with cast-iron strap hinges. To right are two replacement half-doors with timber-sheeted door above at right. The stable block has two multi-paned casement windows to first floor and two large entrances to ground floor; each having timber-sheeted doors. There is a concrete block wall between the coach house and the stable and concrete steps to the loft. Other smaller outbuildings are used as log, coal and implement sheds.

Setting:
Set in extensive grounds south of the Hillhall Road, enclosed by rubble stone wall and mature hedgerow and accessed via tree-lined driveway. Lawned garden with mature trees and tennis court to south, enclosed with a 4m high wire fence, incorporating a early horse drawn tramcar. To west is a kitchen garden - approximately 50m x 30m.

Roof: Natural slate
Walling: Ruled-and-lined render
Windows: uPVC
RWG: Aluminium

Historical information

Oakhill first appears on the first edition Ordnance Survey map for Hillhall in 1834 where it is depicted as a square shaped building situated on the modern Hillhall road to the east of Lisburn. The 1834 map records the building as a ‘Glebe house’ and also shows an oblong outbuilding to the north side of the house. The Ordnance Survey Memoirs record that Drumbeg Parish Church was constructed in 1768 and was rebuilt in 1833 at the expense of John Charley Esquire (Ordnance Survey Memoirs, Co. Down II, Vol. 7, p. 53); Lewis’ Topographical Dictionary (1837) records that the Glebe House in Hill Hall was built in 1826 with funds of £415 (given as a gift) and a loan of £46, both procured from the Board of First Fruits, with an additional £200 provided by the incumbent minister (Lewis).

There was very little alteration to the site by the second edition of the Ordnance Survey maps in 1859; however a small outbuilding had been constructed to the north of the house by the Hillhall Road. Griffith’s Valuation records that the Rev. Thomas Walker occupied the Glebe House at this time which was valued at £23 and let from the Marquis of Downshire; the large outbuilding to the north of the house was used as a caretakers house and was valued at £3 10s.

The Rev G T Payne was appointed to the parish of Drumbeg in 1864. He found that the two schools and the glebe house were in need of urgent repairs. He recorded in the fly leaf of the register of baptisms, marriages and deaths in 1875 that the walls of the glebe house had been raised three feet and a new roof put on of the very best materials. A new coach house and stable block were built at the same time.

In 1869 the Church of Ireland was disestablished by an Act of Parliament and the property was transferred to the Commissioners of Church Temporalities in Ireland who in turn vested the property in the Representative Church Body, (a body formed at disestablishment to hold the church's property and manage its finances). They valued and surveyed the property in 1877 and this document formed the basis of the conveyance to William Robert Oakman of Pigeontown, Glenavy when he bought the glebe house in 1895 for £700.

As a new rectory had been built close to the church, Mr Oakman had to rename the property and chose Oakhill. It has remained in the ownership of the descendents of William Robert Oakman since that time.

The 1877 survey plans show the replacement of the caretaker's house with the new coach house and stables. A box extension had been added to the north side of the main house. With minor alterations the footprint of the property has changed little since that time.

Mains water came to Oakhill in the mid-1950's. Until that time drinking water came from a well to the north of the property. Other water was stored in a large lead lined tank on top of the box extension. This was removed in 1990 when a bathroom was added to the top of the extension. A newspaper dated 1895 was found beneath a repair to the lead lining at this time. (Information provided by the current owners)

References

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/3/15/1 – First Edition Ordnance Survey Map 1834
2. PRONI OS/6/3/15/2 – Second Edition Ordnance Survey Map 1859
3. PRONI VAL/2/B/3/25C – Griffith’s Valuation 1861
4. Ordnance Survey Memoirs, Co. Down II, Vol. 7
5. Lewis’ Topographical Dictionary (1837)
6. First Survey Image (1982)
7. Irish Temporalities Commission to the Representative Church Body - 20.11.1877
8. Conveyance - Representative Church Body to W R Oakman - 07.02.1895

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

Evaluation

Oakhill is a well-preserved three-bay two-storey -over-basement twin bow-front detached house in Regency style, built c. 1825, located south of the Hillhall Road, Lisburn. Much of the architectural detailing is intact externally and the interior layout survives along with some fine detailing. Situated in unspoiled surroundings with extensive grounds and some of its early outbuildings intact to the rear, it displays proportions and detailing typical of the period and is a relatively rare example of a Regency-style villa in this area.