145-147 Ballyskeagh Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Pair of symmetrical one-and-a-half-storey brick semi-detached houses which appear to have been built in 1884, located north of Ballyskeagh Road. Each house is rectangular-on-plan aligned north-south; single-storey extension at north built c.1960.

Roof is pitched natural slate with blue/black clay ridge tiles; projecting eaves supported on exposed timber rafter ends and plainly detailed timber bargeboards; central red brick corbelled chimneystack with four circular clay pots; replacement u-profile uPVC rainwater goods; Walling is stretcher-bond brick; windows are square-headed 1/1 timber sliding sashes contained within painted reveals; doors are braced and sheeted timber vertically sheeted with transom lights.

Principal elevation is faces south; door at right and left, two windows at centre.

West gable contains replacement window at ground floor, two diminished round-arched headed 1/1 timber sliding sash windows at first floor.

North (rear) elevation is abutted by single-storey flat roof extension, extension of no architectural or historic interest; exposed area is blank. Rear elevation is enclosed by curved brick wall and modern gate at west.

Small garden at south contains south is enclosed by prick plinth wall and railings supported by brick piers.

Roof: Natural slate
Walling: Stretcher-bond red brick
Windows: Square-headed 1/1 timber sliding sashes
RWG: Replacement u-profile uPVC

Historical information

The valuation revision books indicate that this pair of dwellings were erected in 1884. The houses, presumably built as agricultural labourers' dwellings, appear to have have been constructed by the Stewart family, owners of the (still extant) public house to the immediate east. The pair have a single upper level space (accessed via ladder), which - judging from what is known of similar labourers' cottages elsewhere - would have been allocated to one or other property on the basis of the size of the family in each.

A single-storey extension was added to the north elevation of both houses c.1960, although the 3rd Edition OS Map indicates that there were originally narrower returns to the rear than exist at present. The eastern cottage is now used as a taxi office.

References
Primary Sources
1. PRONI OS/6/3/9/1 – First Edition Ordnance Survey Map 1834
2. PRONI OS/6/3/9/2 – Second Edition Ordnance Survey Map 1858
3.PRONI VAL12B/20/10B-F, 11E 1866-1929
4. PRONI OS/6/3/9/3 – Third Edition Ordnance Survey Map 1901-02
5. PRONI OS/6/3/9/4 – Fourth Edition Ordnance Survey Map 1920-21
6. Ordnance Survey map 165-4 (1971)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A pair of symmetrical one-and-a-half-storey brick semi-detached labourer's houses built 1884, located north of Ballyskeagh Road. Each house is rectangular on plan, with a single-storey extension at north built c.1960. Modern additions have encroached on the rear elevation detracting from the overall impression of the original scale of the houses. However, features of the principal south elevation contribute significantly to the architectural heritage of the local area, including 1/1 timber sliding sash windows and vertically sheeted timber doors. Full height curved brick boundary wall to side and rear encloses the rear yard. Formally planned labourer's dwellings of this period are now a relatively rare commodity and, notwithstanding the later addition this pair remains a well-preserved example of the genre.