The Stables

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A quadrangular arrangement of single storey outbuildings around a courtyard with a two-storey entrance block surmounted by a cupola. Main entrance faces south.

South elevation comprises the central two-storey, three-bay entrance block, flanked each side by single storey wings projecting forward slightly.
Entrance block has roof of Bangor blue slates in regular courses, with two original flush rooflights; central octagonal timber belfry with arched head openings in each face; lead dressed base and lead cupola with ball finial and iron weathervane. Looks like moulded PVC gutters; cast iron downpipes of rectangular section.
Walls of roughly squared rock faced greystone in regular courses with later reticulated cement mortar; rusticated sandstone quoins to extremities; projecting plain eaves course with timber eaves board. Main entrance comprises a rusticated sandstone elliptical archway in a rectangular surround, slightly projecting, with moulded cornice, imposts, and plinth; contains a pair of modern large arched sheeted timber doors mounted on steel framing to rear face, and containing a small wicket gate. Entrance archway flanked each side by a pair of original cylindrical cast iron bollards. Three windows to first floor: rectangular modern timber small paned fixed lights with top-hung vents, replacements for supposed original sliding sashes, set in later cement rendered reveals, with projecting stone cills; sandstone heads with sandstone drip moulds. Ground floor has one timber window, to right-hand side, a later insertion: of similar glazing to previous but with concrete cill and raised cement rendered surrounds, spalling at head to reveal flat iron lintel; modern iron spiked bars attached.

Wing to left is three-bay with one window to each side of a central doorway: roof slated as previous, with two original rooflights; one chimney, smooth cement rendered with plain block cornice; one original octagonal pot with two modern stub pots. Walling as previous including quoins to extremities, with moulded weathering to cornice at right-hand side where it overlaps the entrance block; rainwater goods as previous. Windows as previous to first floor of entrance block. Doorway contains a rectangular timber sheeted door of herringbone pattern with scrolling wrought iron hinges, surmounted by a plain rectangular timber fanlight set in a modern moulded timber frame, in smooth rendered reveals with similar head and drip mould to windows.

Wing to right is similar to wing to left except no chimney and no rooflights and windows have modern spiked iron bars affixed; window to right is a large modern three-light arrangement of timber casements and top-hung vents, set in raised smooth rendered surrounds with rendered cill; no sandstone dressings. Doorway similar to left-hand wing except frame is unmoulded and fanlight has pseudo leading in a Georgian radial pattern.

West elevation of entrance block: hipped roof, slated as previous, with two original flush rooflights; walling of snecked basalt with quoins to extremities as previous; rainwater goods as previous.

West elevation of left-hand wing: roof slated as previous, with two original rooflights; one rendered chimney, as previous, but no pots; rainwater goods as previous; walling: roughly squared coursed rock faced basalt to right-hand end, with roughly coursed basalt rubble to the remainder, all with recessed or smeared cement pointing; rusticated sandstone quoins to extremities. One window to each floor: first floor has a rectangular timber sliding sash, 2 over 2 with horns, set in plain cement rendered reveals with projecting stone cill; ground floor has a later small paned timber fixed light and top-hung vent set in a raised smooth rendered surround with projecting sandstone cill. At the left-hand extremity is a modern projecting single storey toilet block with smooth cement rendered walls, lined and blocked, flush timber doors, PVC windows, asbestos slated lean-to roof, and PVC rainwater goods. Projecting to west behind modern toilet block is an original screen wall to a side yard beyond: walling of roughly coursed basalt rubble with rusticated quoins to left-hand extremity, and sandstone copings.

West elevation of west wing of courtyard: hipped slated roof as previous, with original flush rooflights and modern steel ventilator coils; wall of basalt rubble, with derelict window opening, and a now closed elliptical brick arched opening.

Rear elevation is slated as previous; walling modern rendered with wet dash of stone chippings; projecting brick eaves course with timber eaves board; PVC gutter and downpipes. Two windows, modern metal framed casements, set in smooth rendered reveals with similar cills; rectangular doorway in smooth rendered surround, containing a sliding steel door.

East elevation of entrance block is similar to west end.

East elevation of right-hand wing: roof slated as previous; one chimney smooth rendered, with two stub pots; rainwater goods as previous; walling of roughly coursed basalt rubble with rusticated sandstone quoins to extremities; darker toned patches of basalt suggest two previous openings now walled up. Two windows, one to each floor: first floor has a rectangular timber sliding sash, 3 over 3 without horns, in cement rendered reveals with projecting smooth rendered cill; ground floor window is similar to one in other wing, with modern spiked iron bars affixed.

East elevation of east wing of courtyard: hipped slated roof with one original flush rooflight and one modern ventilator; moulded PVC gutter with cast iron downpipe as previous; walling of roughly coursed basalt rubble, with projecting eaves course; timber eaves board.

Coachway in entrance block leading into courtyard: side walls smooth cement rendered, lined and blocked; ceiling of modern hardboard sheets.

Courtyard elevations: rear elevation of entrance block is smooth cement rendered, lined and blocked; roof slated as previous; moulded PVC gutter and downpipes; central elliptical archway; rectangular door and window openings with modern timber fixed lights and top-hung vents in plain reveals and timber sheeted doors.

Courtyard elevations of lower wings are of similar character with similar modern windows and flush timber door or doors removed.

Courtyard elevations of east and west wings and rear wing are single storey, with slated roofs including original rooflights; roughly squared coursed basalt walls, with original recessed lime mortar pointing; moulded PVC gutters and downpipes.

West wing has four elliptical arches of red brickwork, all later blocked up, three of them with smooth cement render, lined and blocked and incorporating modern glazed doors.

Rear wing has two centrally placed elliptical sandstone archways; one to right contains sliding sheeted doors and sheeted tympanum; one to left later closed with basalt and brick to contain a sheeted door. To left of arches rear wing has brick flat arched openings containing modern door and windows; to right wall is smooth cement rendered, containing rectangular opening and modern timber windows.

East wing has similar brick flat arched openings with original sheeted door and modern timber windows and door.

SETTING: The buildings stand in a rural area within the grounds of an agricultural college, well to the east of the original house on the estate. Approached by the rear driveway to the complex which opens into a large tarmac area in front of the stable block. Modern barns stand well to the front of the block and close to the rear. Along base of entrance elevation are small flower beds; extending to the right at the right-hand extremity is a small modern stone screen wall with modern steel gate and railings.

Historical information

Built as a stable block in association with Greenmount, formerly the house of the Thompson family. Precise date of building not known but it appears on the OS map of 1832. No longer used as stables; used as offices, stores, and workshops for the agricultural college.

References – Primary Sources
1. OS Map 1832, Co Antrim 50.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

This is a late Georgian stable yard which retains its overall external form but has lost a number of original features as well as most of its original interiors in the process of modernisation and adaptation.