Fern Bank

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Detached three-bay one-and-a-half-storey rendered house built c.1870, facing east and located to the west of Portglenone Road.

Rectangular in plan, with wall head dormer above central entrance to east. Two-storey extension to west and single-storey lean-to extension to north-west.

The roof is pitched natural slate with plain angled ridge tiles, uPVC gutters and downpipes. Bargeboards are fixed to exposed purlin ends, chimneys at gables are red brick with roll top terracotta pots. Walls are painted, ruled and lined render; rendered chamfered quoins and plinth. Windows are segmental headed painted timber 1/1 vertical sliding sash, unless otherwise stated.

Principal east elevation has central lucarne at half-storey level; double stepped rebated segmental-headed opening to entrance door surmounted by a moulded entablature on simple pilasters. Door is replacement eight-panel with glazed segmental fanlight above. Window openings with moulded rendered hood and side mouldings, painted tooled stone cills with render additions to each end. First floor window opening encloses two more slender sliding sash windows; crown glass is still evident in some windows.

The south gable has windows are symmetrical positioned at first floor level and have painted tooled stone cills.

The east elevation which is abutted by the two-storey addition and single-storey extension has a replacement glazed panelled double door to the south end.

The north gable has two windows at first floor level and one to the west at ground floor level and have painted tooled stone cills

The two storey addition to west and single storey extension have natural slate roofs and painted ruled and lined rendered walls. Windows are painted timber transomed top hung casements with painted pre-cast concrete sills.

Pitched roof garage to north of no interest.

Setting

The house is accessed by tarmac driveway to the north east and pedestrian access to the south, bounded by hedges to the north south and east (roadside). The house is elevated on the centre of the site accessed by four steps onto a raised lawn and garden area, concrete steps with cast iron railings and handrails. There are mature gardens to the rear (west) of the site.

Smooth rendered ruled and lined convex entrance walls with square smooth rendered piers and saddleback coping. Cast iron gate posts, no gates remaining.

Roof covering Natural slate
Walling Painted rendered – ruled and lined
Windows Timber 1/1 sliding sash (vertically divided)
Rainwater goods uPVC

Historical information

The house is not shown on the early edition OS maps, appearing first in 1904. A Valuation Revision of 1866 records an office and land leased by Rev. Wm. O’Neill to Rev. Henry Stewart and valued at £1.10s. In 1879 the occupant is recorded as Rev. K Elliot. By 1881 the building recorded on the site has substantially increased in value, being recorded at £7.10s, suggesting a date of construction between 1879 and 1881. By 1910 the occupant is recorded as Hugh Hustin.

References:

Primary Sources:
1. PRONI OS/6/1/43/1 First edition OS map (1832)
2. PRONI OS/6/1/43/2 Second edition OS map (1857)
3. PRONI OS/6/1/43/4 Fourth edition OS map (1904)
4. PRONI VAL/12B/3/22C Valuations Revision Notebook (1890-1896)
5. PRONI VAL/12B/3/22D Valuations Revision Notebook (1896-1912)
6. PRONI VAL/12B/3/22E Valuations Revision Notebook (1911-1929)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Detached three-bay one-and-a-half-storey house built c.1870, located to the west of Portglenone Road. Rectangular in plan with two-storey extension to west and single-storey lean-to extension to north-west. Compromised by alterations, this house does not meet the statutory and policy tests as a building of special architectural or historic interest.