Ballywhite House

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Ballywhite House is a large two storey, double pile, rambling gentleman’s residence with a more recent two storey projecting Italianate porch and extensive rear returns. The building dates for the most part from c.1860-70, but the rear returns may contain elements of a pre 1834 dwelling.

The complex comprises a long rectangular double gabled block with projecting Italianate porch to the front (SW) and extensive servants’ quarters, contained in a large return, to the rear (NE). On the NW side is a recently reconstructed (but in a somewhat simplified form) Victorian ‘hot house’/conservatory, which leads to a single cell ‘ballroom’. The detailing to the house is generally simple, however, there is applied decoration to the projecting full height front porch and the gables of the main front section.

SW (front) facade has a central projecting full height porch with corner pilasters rising to a frieze (below first floor window cill). First floor has paired pilasters with floral caps and frieze supporting broken entablature surmounted by acroteria- heavy square pinnacles to corners and stylised floral/leaf pattern to apex. Above first floor windows is a carved ‘ cartouche’. Two pane PVC windows are set within the original openings. Triple opening with columns with floral caps as mullions to ground floor. First floor similar but shorter. Each side of porch is identical. To first floor paired opening (as front) over double timber glazed doors.

Symmetrical ‘wings’ to either side of porch. Ground floor two windows each with projecting moulded cornice supported on moulded consul brackets. First floor windows less tall and with no decoration. SE gable ground floor has three window semi-circular flat roofed bay with windows as previous ground floor and moulded cornice/cope. First floor centre window with moulded triangular pediment on moulded console brackets. Windows either side identical, except for segmental arch pediment. NW gable windows as SE to first floor.

The S gable is double piled The left gable has a semicircular, central, single storey bay, with three windows as before, each with projecting cornice / canopy supported on decorative console brackets. To first floor are three windows each with a projecting entablature supported on decorative console brackets. The entablature to the centre is triangular while that to the left and right are segmental arched. Windows to this gable are all PVC. The gable to the right projects slightly and has a mullioned, tripartite window each to the ground and first floors. The first floor windows are slightly shorter. The mullions are formed as pilasters with decorative capitols. The windows are sash with no astragals and horns. To the far right is a large, hipped roof, two storey irregular shaped block (servants quarters) This appears to have been constructed later and is very simply detailed with sash windows with vertical astragals. Rain water goods to most of the main house are extruded aluminium.

Ground floor single storey pitched roof extension to the left of the front elevation leads to ‘hot house’ which was recently reconstructed, mainly in timber but re-using decorative cast iron brackets, simple ceramic floor tiles etc. This in turn leads to the ‘ball room’ on the NE, a large single cell hipped roof hall with exposed cast iron trusses internally.

The ‘hot house’ abuts the N gable (obscuring the ground floor) which is double piled.. To the first floor of the main N gable are three equally spaced windows. Each has a projecting entablature supported on decorative console brackets. That to the centre is triangular while the two outer are segmental arched.

The ballroom is much obscured with rampant plant growth but appears to be simply detailed with large windows with Georgian panes. (these were replicated in 2002) The hall roof covered with Bangor blue slate is hipped.

Generally the house and hall are finished in plain lined render with moulded base and cornice eaves course with Bangor blue slate, yellow brick chimneys and cast iron rain water goods.

To the E is a substantial collection of farm buildings (referred to as ‘Farm buildings A’ in slides). These are all of varying ages ranging from early nineteenth century to mid twentieth century. Two buildings to the SE of the house form an open ended courtyard and are probably early nineteenth century. Both are gabled and flat stone rubble. That closest to the house is white washed with slate pitched roof. It contains original horse stalls and cast iron manger. In addition there are some original cast iron hopper windows inscribed with ‘Musgrave’s Patent Belfast’. The adjoining barns are ‘L’ shaped and have pitched roofs finished in corrugated iron. The white wash has been substantially cleaned to reveal multi coloured stone rubble. This building was recently renovated and has new timber windows and double coach doors pass doors etc. Other nineteenth century farm buildings and a farm house also within Ballywhite House estate (referred to as ‘Farm buildings B’ in slides).

Historical information

On the OS maps of 1834 and 1860 a building of different size, shape and orientation is shown on this site. The 1838 valuation returns tell us that this original house was a one and a half storey residence measuring 41ft x 22 with an accompanying extensive range of one and two storey outbuildings. At this stage the property belonged to an Isabella McDonnell. By 1861 the property had been acquired by John Warnock, a solicitor apparently originally from Downpatrick. The present house is believed to have been built by Warnock around c.1870, with the original dwelling perhaps incorporated into the new structure as part of the rear return. Warnock also built the small lodge along the main entrance drive to the west.

In 1918 the property was acquired by the present owner's family.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI OS/6/3/24/1 OS maps, 1st ed., 1834, Down sheet 24
2 PRONI VAL/1B/36 First valuation, Parish of Ardquin, 1838
3 PRONI OS/6/3/24/2 OS maps, 1st rev, 1860, Down sheet 24
4 PRONI Second ('Griffith's') valuation, 1861 [In print.]
5 PRONI OS/6/3/24/3 OS maps, 2nd ed., 1899-1900, Down sheet 24

Secondary sources
1 G. Philip Bell, C.E.B. Brett, Sir Robert Matthew, Ulster Architectural Heritage Survey: Portaferry & Strangford
(Belfast UAHS 1969), p.20
2 Major W.S. Brownlow, "The Brownlows", in 'Journal of the Upper Ards Historical Society No.11' (1987), pp. 8-9
3 J.A.K. Dean, 'The Gate Lodges of Ulster- A Gazetteer' (UAHS, 1994), p.89

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
H-. Alterations detracting from building
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Gentleman’s residence of c.1870, with large full height Italianate porch to front. The building may incorporate the fabric of a smaller pre 1834 dwelling. Despite some alterations this house is of special architectural interest and has group value with the nearby listed lgate lodge.