Farm Yard

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A complex of single and two-storey farm buildings, built c.1850, located within Moneyglass estate. The complex is rectangular and enclosed by roughcast and random rubble walling.

Roofs are slated and pitched, the walls are roughcast, over random rubble. Windows are timber framed with louvred openings to blocks A and D.

Block A

Detached two-storey seven-bay farm building located to the west of the complex. The building is rectangular on plan.
The walls have brick quoins, brick corbelled eaves and masonry kneelers. Windows are segmental-arch-headed with stepped brick reveals and voussoirs and masonry sills.

The principal elevation (west) has large double-height entrance opening to centre set in rendered recessed bay within brick surround, flanked to each side by two bays with windows to ground and first floor levels. The doors are of corrugated metal.

The north gable has a single round headed opening to first floor.

The east elevation is as the north elevation. The building is abutted to the north-east corner by a lean-to roof and mono-pitched canopy supported by cast iron columns. The canopy abuts the random rubble yard boundary wall to the north.

The south gable is as the north gable. The south elevation is abutted to the east by a random rubble boundary wall containing rendered brick gate pillars and a pair of iron gates.

Block B

Single storey byre located to the north of the farm complex. The building has an L-shaped plan. The building is open to the south and east, supported at the internal corner by a cast iron column. The timber roof structure is exposed. There is a blockwork partition wall. There is a square headed opening to attic level on the south wall with flush masonry sill. The roof has partly collapsed.

Block C

Single storey farm building located to the north boundary of the yard, divided in use by a north-south partition wall through the yard. The building has exposed timber roof rafters with collar support. The west side comprises a pigsty, subdivided into five bays, each with sandstone feeding trough and half-height opening in wall running east-west along ridge line. To the east, the building is three bays wide, with internal brickwork partitions. Each bay has a window opening to the left and door opening to the right. The east window has original masonry sill.

Block D

Two-storey multiple-bay building with a hipped slated roof and brick corbelling to eaves. There are remains of a brick chimney to the north.

The south elevation has a single square headed window to first floor level with sandstone sill. There is evidence of an opening to ground floor level but it is now blocked.

The west elevation has a round-arch-headed opening to the north. There are three square headed windows placed centrally to the first floor. Ground floor windows have brick voussoirs. There are entrance openings below the outer first floor openings and two square headed window openings to ground floor beneath the central first floor window.

The north elevation shows evidence of three openings to ground floor surmounted by a centrally placed opening to first floor, each opening with a brick surround. All are now blocked. The elevation is abutted to base by a rendered wall and yard.

The east elevation is four bays wide. Each bay contains a small square ventilation opening to ground floor. The north bay has one square headed opening to first floor level.

The building is abutted to the north east by a small ruined building built off walled garden south boundary random rubble wall with wrought iron railings.

Block E

Single-storey covered shelter open to the north, with the roof supported by two cast iron columns. The roof structure is exposed with beams exposed to the underside of the timber plank floor to attic. The west wall has a square headed opening with replacement concrete surround to attic.
Block E appears to have been connected to block F originally. The south wall between these has an opening to first floor level, the top of which is now gone. The remains of the roof structure can still be seen.

Block F

Single-storey byre, as B. To the roof valley the slate is now replaced with corrugated metal. To the south, the attic is floored with timber plank floor and exposed beams. To the west, the pitched roof is supported by unsawn timber brace. There are blockwork partitions internally.

Roof covering Slate
Walling Roughcast / Random rubble
Windows Timber frame louvers
Rainwater goods Cast iron

Historical information

The farmyard lies within the eighteenth century Moneyglass demesne, a rural estate owned by the Jones family.

The 1833 OS map shows a single, small building on the site. The 1857 map records that the farm complex had been substantially enlarged by this time. It is possible the farm complex was the work of Sir Charles Lanyon who was involved in work for the house c. 1855.

There appear to have been three main phases of change at Moneyglass House. The first recorded occupant of Moneyglass. W. M. Jones had leased the estate on the 15th of April 1726 from French John O'Neill for a term of three lives at £25 rent per annum, which was renewable forever. He was second generation in Ireland, a scion of an ancient Welsh family that had arrived during the reign Charles II, and was himself the inspiration of Carolan's “celebrated planxty,” “Bumper Squire Jones.” (OS mem p.117). According to the OS Memoirs, a replacement house was built in 1787 by Thomas Morres Jones Esq. (p.117). A third stage (c.1855) is thought to be associated with Lanyon who is known to have worked on the gate lodge (HB20/01/21D).

References:

Primary sources

1. PRONI OS/6/1/94/1, OS Map, 1st edition, Co Antrim, sheet no. 42 (1833)
2. PRONI OS/6/1/94/2, OS Map, 2nd edition, Co Antrim, sheet no. 42 (1857).
3. PRONI VAL/1A/1/42, Townland Valuation Map, Co. Antrim, no. 42, 1836 VAL1 1836
4. OS Memoirs of Ireland, Parishes of Co Antrim VI 1830, 1833, 1835-38 (South west Antrim) Vol 19

Secondary sources

1. Brett, C. E. B. “Buildings of County Antrim.” Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1996
2. Dean, J. A. K. The Gatelodges of Ulster: A Gazetteer, 1994
3. Girvan, W. D. & Rowan, R. J. “Ulster Architectural Heritage Society Second List of Historic Buildings, Groups of Buildings, Areas of Architectural Importance in West Antrim, Within the Designated Area of the Antrim and Ballymena Development Commission.” Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1970.
4. Young, Robert Magill. “Belfast and the Province of Ulster in the Twentieth Century.” Pike's New Century Series, ed. W. T. Pike. Brighton : W. T. Pike, 1909

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

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

Criteria for listing: historic interest

V. Authorship
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

This farm building complex is arranged around a central courtyard/farmyard. It is a less formal complex than the stable yard (HB20/01/021B) and more vernacular in character. There is a range of single and two storey buildings and shelters which are still used as part of the working farm on the estate today. Although in parts roofs are collapsed and details deteriorating, the farm complex still maintains its character and there is some fine detailing, for example, brickwork surrounds and corbelled eaves. Block A also displays some fine king-post trusses. The complex is an important aspect of the estate and is part of the range of accommodation reflecting farming practices of the time.

General comments

This record has been added as a part of estate HB20/01/021