87 Whinney Hill

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A detached symmetrical three-bay two-storey farmhouse with outbuildings, built c.1800 as a single-storey vernacular dwelling and extended c.1900; located east of Whinney Hill, Craigantlet. Rectangular on plan with single-storey side return and projecting single-storey gabled porch to south.

Pitched natural slate roof with two rendered chimneystacks having three clay pots on moulded plinth. Cast-iron half-round and ogee rainwater goods. Walling is smooth rendered. Windows are 2/2 timber sliding sash with horns, having horizontal glazing bars and projecting masonry sills.

The principal north elevation has three windows to first floor; ground floor left has a single window; ground floor right has a paired window with continuous sill; to centre is gabled porch opening to east with timber-sheeted door; to south elevation is window opening having herringbone timber shutter.

The west gable is abutted by single-storey side return; north elevation has 6/6 sliding sash window at left and full-height timber-sheeted double-leaf doors at right; south elevation has paired 1/1 sliding sash windows at right and replacement timber-sheeted door with glazed panel at left.

The south elevation faces the yard with three windows to first floor, that to right is lower. Ground floor has replacement timber-sheeted door with diminutive glazed panel to right of centre, accessed by single elongated slab step; 6/6 sliding sash window to right.

The east gable is abutted to ground floor by slated lean-to having 1/1 metal casement window and a timber-sheeted latch door to north elevation.

Setting

One and one-and-a-half-storey rubble stone and brick lime-rendered slated outbuildings arranged to north around farm yard. Single-storey range to north comprising, from left; metal casement window, studded metal door and large replacement timber-sheeted door; central block has two diminutive 2/2 timber-framed windows with timber-sheeted half doors to centre; block to far left has full-height timber-sheeted doors on rollers. One-and-a-half storey barn to west has replacement round-headed window to north gable; east elevation has round-headed carriage entrance at left having replacement partially glazed double-leaf timber doors. To right are two diminutive 2/2 windows under eaves and replacement timber-sheeted door under. South gable is blank; west elevation has two 2/2 windows to first floor left and two 2/2 windows to ground floor at left and right. Small block to east at left of entrance having two timber-sheeted doors and two small windows.

Situated on a mature site with outbuildings to north; lawned garden with shrubs to south. To east is a threshing machine. Bounded to road to east by rubble stone walls having curved rendered entrance with gate piers and wrought-iron farm gates. To west are early rubble stone gate piers leading to adjoining wood.

Roof: Natural slate
Walling: Smooth render
Windows: 2/2 timber-framed sash
RWG: Cast-iron

Historical information

This farmhouse is situated in a landscape that has changed little since the time of the earliest Ordnance Survey in 1834, the only major change being the increase of woodland in the area in recent times. The current farm is shown on the first edition (1834) as a pair of parallel dwellings with what may be a small outbuilding between them. One of these houses has survived as an outbuilding, the other was replaced by a two-storey farmhouse at the turn of the century. The houses are not listed in the Townland Valuation as they would not have reached the threshold for inclusion.

In Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64), the houses are listed as the dwellings of James and Samuel Brown, both leased from the Marquess of Londonderry and valued at £1.10s. The Browns leased over 35 acres in total which was valued at £15 for each of them. In 1867 James Brown’s house was raised in value to £2.10s, this rise in valuation possibly relating to the addition of a further building to the plot which is first shown on the third edition of 1901-02 and still survives. Samuel Brown died in around 1867 and his house was reduced in value to £1. Alexander Brown is noted as the occupier in 1877. (Annual Revisions)

The valuation of the main house was increased to £7 in 1900 (reduced to £6.15s in 1904, possibly following an appeal). This increase is suggestive of the replacement of a single-storey vernacular dwelling with the two-storey farmhouse that is present today. James Brown’s census return of 1901 states that he was a farmer and a widower, living with his three adult children, none of whom were married. His farmhouse has six windows to the front facade, six rooms and ten outbuildings including two stables and three cow houses. James Brown died in June 1906 leaving a substantial fortune of nearly £1,000 and that same year the farm was bought under land purchase legislation. (1901 census; Annual Revisions)

By 1908 James’ son Alexander Brown is listed as the occupier of the main house and he is living in the house with his brother and sister at the time of the 1911 census. The second house on the plot is now listed as offices or outbuildings and falls into ruins by 1908 when it is valued at 5s.

In 1911 the valuation of the main house is increased again to £7.5s indicating minor improvements. The farm appears to have remained in the Brown family during the period of Annual Revisions. (1911 census; Annual Revisions) The house has recently been sympathetically restored by its current occupant.

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/3/5/1 – First Edition OS Map 1834
2. PRONI OS/6/3/5/2 – Second Edition OS map 1858
3. PRONI OS/6/3/5/3 – Third Edition OS Map 1901-02
4. PRONI OS/6/3/5/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map 1919-20
5. PRONI OS/6/3/5/5 – Fifth Edition OS Map 1938-39
6. PRONI VAL/12/B/23/24A-F – Annual Revisions (1864-1929)
7. PRONI Will of James Brown, died 21st June 1906
8. Griffith’s Valuation online
9. 1901 census online
10. 1911 census online

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A detached asymmetrical three-bay two-storey farmhouse with rubble stone and brick outbuildings. On the interface of vernacular and formal design, the house retains much original character. However, it is of a relatively common type and is not among the best examples of a traditional rural dwelling.