248 Ballylesson Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Prior to its demolition in October 2008, this was an attractive late Georgian gable-ended rendered and white-washed cottage, 1½-stories high with a three bay front. It had a rectangular plan, rubble-stone walls, with east-west long axis and is set back around five yards from the south side of the road to Lisburn (B23). To the west there was an adjoining single storey addition, part of which was not accessed for the present survey. The dwelling was located close to the cross-roads at Gardeners Loan Ends and lay a few hundred yards south-west of Belvedere house and demesne.

The three bay symmetrical front (N) façade had a central doorway, flanked each side by a window each with a sliding sash (eight over eight) and stone sill. The door had six panels with brass fixtures and simple moulded narrow architrave. There were no windows on the upper floor level, but above the eaves there was a centrally placed pediment-dormer with plain verge, containing an oculus or 'bull's eye' window (four panes). The oculus had a raised band surround, matching the raised band cornice running along the eaves and on the gable verge. A gutter ran along the eaves, crossing the tympanum, but the original building appears to have been devoid of such guttering. This front façade, with its elegant symmetrical proportions, was clearly designed to project a sophisticated image to this building, which internally and to the rere could be otherwise classified as vernacular.

The east end gable had a rendered plain surface, broken only by a single window opening on the first floor. This had a sliding-sash of six over three and timber sill. The west end gable has two small windows at first floor level (two over two), while the surface of the gable was broken by a projecting breast, built to accommodate an extra flue for the chimney, built when the single storey extension was added to the building around the 1840s. That part of this extension abutting the house had rubble stone walls, externally rendered, with a lean-to roof, with Bangor blue slates. It was entered by a door on the south-west side through a ledged batten door. The west side of this extension contained a small window with sliding-sash, two over two.

The rere elevation, also rendered and white-washed, was characterised by an irregular fenestration of different sized windows. There were two openings on the first floor, both with sliding-sashes of six panes over six. The ground floor had three windows – a notably large opening on the south side, with sliding sash of eight panes over eight; another with sliding-sash of six panes over six, both with stone sill, and in the centre (lighting the area below stairs) a small square opening with a single pane. At the north end there was a large vertically placed iron plate, matching one on the front façade, holding a tie bar in place. There was a plain cornice with gutter (partly fallen) and downpipe.

The roof of the house had even courses of Bangor Blue slates with a stone ridge. There were impressive and picturesque chimneys at each gable end, each rising from the gable wall with supporting internal breasts. Both stacks, which were rendered and appear to be made of stone rubble, were surmounted by an oversailing cornice with bold Cyma Reversa mouldings. There were no chimney pots on the west stack, and two on the east end, each had a flue hood.

There is no wall delimiting the property. The dwelling would formally have had a garden in front facing the road, but at the time of survey this area was heavily overgrown with bushes. The house is set within a small paddock of around a quarter of an acre - now very overgrown with bushes and tufts of grass.

Historical information

This house was demolished in October 2008.

It lay on lands once belonging to Belvedere, a late 18th century merchant's house, located a few hundred yards to the north-east in the parish of Drumbo (HB19/23/019). Although located outside this well planted demesne, this charming cottage had all the appearance of an estate dwelling and was probably built by the Belvedere estate for a member of its staff - possibly a Stewart. The cottage was depicted on the first edition OS map (1834) where it was labelled 'Drumbeg', while on the second edition map (1854) the building had reached its 2008 size, having been enlarged to the south-west. This cottage had a late Georgian appearance, and was most likely erected around 1820. If so, it was probably built by Andrew Durham J.P, who had acquired Belvedere from its previous owner James Watson Hull, around 1800; Durham remained in residence at Belvedere until the 1830s.

Demolished early October 2008.

References:
Brett, C.E.B (2002) Buildings of North County Down, UAHS, Belfast, p167-8.
Rankin J. F. (1981) Heritage of Drumbo. Drumbo.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

This was a charming Late Georgian house with a dual personality before its demolition in October 2008. Its front facade, roof and chimneys had a genteel formal appearance, while its rear fenestration is irregular and vernacular. Internally, the house retained its original staircase and doors, all essentially vernacular. The interior was unusual for its period in being sub-divided entirely by stud-walling, rather than stone or brick walls. It was almost certainly an estate cottage, but its elegant appearance combined with vernacular elements made it an unusual architectural survival. Demolished October 2008.

General comments

DEMOLISHED