Fool's Haven,

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Semi-detached street-fronted three-bay single-storey with attic-storey rendered thatched dwelling, built c.1800, facing south with a single-storey lean-to extension to west. Roof destroyed by fire in 1989, re-roofed and re-thatched c.1990, and extensively refurbished c.2002. East end abutted by HB22/14/004B.

Pitched wheat thatch roof with roll-over ridge, hazel lattice-work, hazel withies, hazel and wire scallops. Roof encased in chicken wire with a rebuilt rendered chimneystack with terracotta pot to a rendered gable. Artificial slate roof to lean-to extension with metal rainwater goods and timber fascia.

Painted render over rubblestone walling, partly rebuilt to eastern end in concrete block.

Square-headed window openings with concrete lintels, sills and smooth render surrounds with replacement timber casement windows.

Square-headed door opening with smooth render surround and vertically-sheeted timber half-door with brass furniture, all c.2004. Further square-headed door opening to lean-to extension, as per above.

The front door opens directly onto the public pavement with cement paving to the west and to a small rear yard which is enclosed by a concrete wall to a raised gravel garden.

Roof: Wheat straw thatch
Walling: Painted render
Windows: Replacement timber casement
RWG: None

Historical information

Buildings similar in location and form are shown on the second edition OS map of 1857. A Town Plan of Boneybefore dating from 1904-1927, shows the houses in detail, as three properties rather than two as at present.

Griffith’s Valuation of 1859 records the properties as three houses and small gardens. The first is occupied by William McDowell and valued at £0.13s. The next is occupied by Thomas Pullens and leased from Alex Donaldson. This building is valued at £1. The final building is vacant and valued at £0.10s with the lessor listed as Samuel Hopkins. No changes of note are found in the Valuation Revision books.

Roof destroyed by fire in 1989, re-roofed and re-thatched c.1990, and extensively refurbished c.2002.

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/1/53/1-First Edition OS Map (1832)
2. PRONI OS/6/1/53/2-Second Edition OS Map (1857)
3. PRONI OS/6/1/53/3-Third Edition OS Map (1902)
4. PRONI VAL/2/A/1/53 –Griffiths Valuation Map (1857)
5. PRONI VAL/2/B/22A -Griffith’s Valuation (1859)
6. PRONI VAL/12/E/29/1 –Town Plan of Eden and Boneybefore (1904-1927)
7. Current owner

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

This house and the adjoining house have been substantially altered in the last decade resulting in the loss of most of the original fabric except the rubblestone walling, which detracts from their interest. Occupying a prominent location on the streetscape of Boneybefore, this structure and the nearby Andrew Jackson Centre are the last remaining thatched dwellings in a village once largely made up of thatched houses.