Fernville

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Detached three-bay one-and-a-half-storey house, built c. 1860 in the Picturesque style, located at north side of Old Manse Road. Rectangular-on-plan; single-storey return to north-west and two-storey return to north-east, each abutted by further single-storey outbuilding.

Roofs pitched and tiled with fretted timber bargeboards and finials; replacement clay ridge tiles. Rendered chimneys with original decorative clay pots. Walls rendered over moulded plinth. Square-headed timber-framed 1/1 sliding sash windows with moulded chamfered surrounds.

Principal elevation faces south. Central timber fretted gabled porch contains round-arched opening; Gothic stained glass windows above timber wainscoting to cheeks. Original timber-panelled entrance door with top glazed panels, all accessed by sandstone steps. Single window to left and right bay at ground floor; substantial label canopy intricately detailed with cornice and circle motifs. Central bay is surmounted by gabled wall-head dormer containing replacement square-headed uPVC window in Gothic opening with moulded spandrel.

West gable comprises single-storey projecting bay containing three windows (also window to each cheek) at ground floor surmounted by moulded parapet and railing; single Gothic opening at first floor containing timber-framed square-headed glazed opening to centre, surmounted by stained glass panel and flanked by sidelights with timber aprons below. Elevation abutted at left by single-storey return containing pair of windows separated by chamfered surround. Further abutted at left by lower return, with painted plinth containing single 2/2 sliding sash window, and wall supporting square pillars to enclosed yard.

North elevation abutted at right by returns and further flat roofed extension containing square-headed timber sheeted door and rectangular window. At left, two-storey return containing single window to right at first floor and further single-storey return containing square-headed vertically timber sheeted door with window to left, modern timber shed to left.

East elevation gabled to left, detailed as west. Return to right abutted by recent uPVC conservatory at ground floor, surmounted by single replacement uPVC casement window to left at first floor. Further abutted to right by single-storey return containing, square-headed garage door to left, single timber casement window with dormer above to right. Abutted by modern garage.

Setting

Set within mature garden. Accessed from Old Manse Road via a pair of timber gates supported on square rendered piers.

Roof Clay tiles
Walling Smooth rendered
Windows timber framed
RWG Cast iron

Historical information

The site is shown as vacant in the first (1833) and second (1857) edition OS maps. The Building first appears in the third edition OS Map of 1902 and is marked ‘Fernville’. The first primary source reference to Fernville is in the Valuation Revision Fieldbook, dating from the 1870's (specific date not given). The property is valued at £33 and the occupier is Mrs. Grainger. A revised entry in 1885 records the occupier as William Grainger. Prior to this decade the area surrounding was for the most part vacant, although the area of land from the river upwards did begin to develop in the 1860’s.

References

Primary Sources:
1. PRONI OS/6/1/57/1 -First edition OS map (1833)
2. PRONI OS/6/1/57/2 - Second edition OS map (1857)
3. PRONI OS/6/1/57/3 - Third edition OS map (1902)
3. PRONI VAL/1/A/1/57-Townland Valuation Map (1834)
4. PRONI VAL/1/B/1/115A+B -Townland Valuation Fieldbook (1836)
5. PRONI VAL/2/A/1/57 -Griffiths Valuation Map (1859)
6. PRONI VAL/2/B/1/13A+B-Griffiths Valuation Fieldbook (1859)
7. PRONI VAL/12/D/1/57 -Revision Valuation Map (1859-1876)
8. PRONI VAL/12/B/1/12 A-K -Revision Valuation Fieldbook (1860-1909)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
H-. Alterations detracting from building

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A detached three-bay one-and-a-half-storey house, built c 1860 in the Picturesque style, located at north side of Old Manse Road, preserved in a secluded garden setting. The house retains much of its original character and detailing. Decorative label canopies and timber porch enhance the appearance and picturesque appeal of the building which represents an unusual style in the locality.