Mount Ross

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Large, formal, two and a half storey gentleman’s residence of the 1747, with 20th century glazed entrance porch and modern style flat roofed return and dormers to rear. The house is set on a rise just off the Ballygarvigan Road, c.3 miles NE of Portaferry, and surrounded by a large random rubble wall, with a raised garden.

The front (SE) is symmetrical. To the centre of the gound floor there is a gabled and glazed porch covering the original doorway, with flight of steps to either side each leading to timber glazed door. Original doorway within porch has timber panelled door with plain fanlight all set within moulded architrave with entablature. Two small (now boarded) basement windows, at level of ground, to either side of porch. Two sash windows, with Georgian panes to each side of porch on ground floor. Five evenly spaced windows to first floor, similar to before but slightly shorter. Small central (flush) gable above eaves with semi-circular ‘eye brow’ window.

South west gable has small two pane attic window to right, with top hung upper opener.

North east gable has similar window to its right with small single storey lean to extension attached to gable with a small fixed light window to the left side (i.e. to the front south east elevation of main house) a multi pane steel window to the north east elevation (gable of main house), and a plain sheeted timber door to the right side (rear).

Large two storey flat roofed return to rear (added 1909) now with timber windows with horizontal and vertical astragals, made to resemble sash but with various top hung bottom and upper openers. To the NW face there are two evenly spaced windows to first floor, with one to the left ground floor and a door to the right. To its NE face there is a window to ground floor (slightly right of centre) and one to first floor (right of centre).

To the left and right and of the return (on the rear dacade of main house) are sash windows (6 over 6), one to first and one to ground floor. To the base of the wall is a sheeted door (giving access to the basement). Long line of modern flat roofed dormers to rear of roof of main house, with timber window frames.

Facade of main house finished in lined render with chamfered quoins and painted, with rear in lined render but unpainted. Chamfered plinth.

Large shallow metal water tank (for gathering rain water) almost covering entire roof of return. Tall rendered chimney stack to return roof. Small moulded heart shaped plaque in middle of rear of return inscribed ‘Oct. 1909’.

Main roof of house gabled and covered with Bangor blue slates. Two recent brown brick chimney stacks with uniform pots. PVC gutters and down spouts, with gutter to front elevation out sized.

Large yard with extensive single and two storey outbuildings to rear. A large two storey outbuilding to the NW side of the yard is roofless.

Historical information

This house was built in 1747 at a cost of £1,500, possibly by one Turner Camac. In 1829, it came in possession of a local farming family called Lyttle, via an uncle who had purchased the property in 1803. An interesting note appended to the 1838 valuation return for the house states that 'the house and offices [outbuildings] are too large for the present occupier, having been occupied formerly by a man of large income', with the valuers advising that the rates be reduced in accordance with the ower Francis Lyttle's modest means.

The rear return was built in 1909, with the glazed entrance porch probably added around the same time. The large flat roofed rear dormer was constructed c.1970.

References- Primary sources
1 'Taylor's and Skinner's Maps of the roads of Ireland' (Dublin 1777)
2 PRONI OS/6/3/32/1 OS maps, 1st ed., 1834, Down sheet 32
3 PRONI VAL/1B/37 1st valuation, Ballyphilip, 1838
4 PRONI OS/6/3/32/2 OS maps, 1st rev., 1860, Down sheet 32
5 PRONI Second ('Griffith's') valuation, 1861 [In print.]
6 PRONI OS/6/3/32/3 OS maps, 2nd ed., 1899-1900, Down sheet 32

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Large, formal, two and a half storey gentleman’s residence of the 1747. Despite some alterations this house still maintains special architectural interest.