3 Purdysburn Village

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

End of terrace 1 1/2-storey redbrick former estate cottage, built c.1830 as part of a group of three similar houses. Located on a cul-de-sac on the north side of Ballycoan Road in Purdysburn Village.

Pitched natural slate roof with roll-moulded black clay ridge tiles, single redbrick chimneystack with terracotta pots and exposed timber rafter feet supporting replacement plastic rainwater goods and gabled dormer. Square-headed window openings with chamfered brick surrounds, masonry sills and timber frames with latticed iron bipartite casement windows.

Front elevation is one bay wide with a gabled dormer having timber bargeboard and windows as above. Square-headed door opening to the left with chamfered brick surround and original vertically-sheeted timber door.

East gable elevation has a single square-headed window opening with uPVC window and a door opening with glazed uPVC door.

Rear elevation has a catslide roof to the east half and replacement uPVC windows.

West side elevation abutted by adjoining house No.2 (HB19/23/025B).

Setting:
Forming part of a terrace of three similar houses located on a cul-de-sac parallel to Ballycoan Road in the village of Purdysburn with the rear gardens set at a lower level than Ballycoan Road.

Roof Natural slate
RWG Plastic
Walling Redbrick
Windows Generally original iron latticed casement

Historical information

No. 3 Purdysburn Village is depicted on the first Ordnance Survey (1834) at the end of a small terrace consisting of houses Nos. 1 to 3 which appear as an oblong structure at the entrance to the cul-de-sac.

The Ordnance Survey Memoirs (1833-38) tell us that Purdysburn Village was built some time before the 1830s; however no documentary evidence concerning the origin of the village has been found (Ordnance Survey Memoirs Down II, Vol. 7, p. 54).

In 1861 Griffiths Valuation recorded that the last owner of Purdysburn House, a Mr. Robert Batt, let this house, which was valued at £1 15s. to a Mr. George Greene. Greene resided at No. 3 until 1895 when it fell vacant for a number of years. A new use for the building was found in 1901 when it was converted into a makeshift Orange Hall. This ‘Hall’ was renamed Batts Purple Star Orange Hall in memory of Robert Batt who had died in 1864 (Ulster Towns Directory – 1908; PRONI Wills Catalogue – 27/07/1864). This local Orange Hall continued to meet in No. 3 Purdysburn Village until at least 1929 when the Annual Revisions ended. However, by 1935 the house was back in private hands occupied by a Mr. William Stevenson. At that time the house had been increased in value to £4. 15s. and measured 14ft by 16.5ft and 13ft tall. Stevenson let the house at 2/9 rent per week from a Mr. John S. [Brain].

The Purdysburn estate was occupied by the Batt family in 1812 and was later sold by Robert Batt who was the last occupant of Purdysburn House (Lowry; Wallace). The First Survey Records for this length describes Nos 1-3 Purdysburn Village as a group of estate houses which were part of the Purdysburn Estate. No. 3 Purdysburn is notable as one of a number of houses formerly attached to Purdysburn House which were let as private dwellings after the sale of the estate c.1860. It is also historically significant as the original meeting place of Batts Purple Star (LOL No. 1933) which continues to march in parades held in Purdysburn, Lisburn, Hillsborough and Belfast; and now operates out of a small orange hall situated in the centre of the village (Parades Commission Website).

References

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/3/9/1 – First edition OS Map 1834
2. PRONI OS/6/3/9/2 – Second Edition OS Map 1858
3. PRONI OS/6/3/9/3 – Third Edition OS Map 1901-1902
4. PRONI OS/6/3/9/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map 1920
5. PRONI VAL/2/B/3/29 – Griffith’s Valuation 1861
6. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/7A – Annual Revisions 1864-1875
7. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/7B – Annual Revisions 1876-1888
8. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/7C – Annual Revisions 1888-1895
9. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/7D – Annual Revisions 1896-1908
10. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/7E – Annual Revisions 1909-1919
11. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/7F – Annual Revisions 1920-1929
12. PRONI VAL/3/D/4/9/L/2-3 – First Northern Ireland General Revaluation 1935-1957
13. Ordnance Survey Memoirs Down II, Vol. 7.
14. PRONI Wills Catalogue – 27/07/1864.
15. Ulster Towns Directory (1908)

Secondary Sources
1. Lowry, M., ‘Some old country houses’ Belfast: c.1913.
2. Wallace, J. B., ‘Drumbo Presbyterian Church: A Short History’ Pamphlet: 1956.
3. First Survey Record – HB19/23/22.

Online Resources

1. Parades Commission Homepage - http://www.paradescommission.org

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

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

Evaluation

End of terrace 1 1/2-storey redbrick former estate cottage, built c.1830 as part of a group of three similar houses. Located on a cul-de-sac on the north side of Ballycoan Road in Purdysburn Village. Although the interior appears to have been altered the exterior retains much of its original fabric and detailing. In particular the presence of lattice cast iron windows is now a rarity. This house has historic interest, group value with the adjoining two houses HB19.23.025A and B and has additional social interest as it was used as an Orange hall for a period in the early twentieth century.

General comments

Recorded as 16-18 Purdysburn Village during the 1st Survey. Now recorded as 1-3 Purdysburn Village and numbered HB19/23/025 A-C