1 Inishargy Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Relatively large two storey gabled vernacular house of probable part pre 1834 construction, with mid to late 19th century shop front and dry dash front façade. The property is prominently situated at the junction of the Inishargy and Shore Roads, roughly half a mile north of Kircubbin.

The front N elevation is asymmetrical. To the right of centre plain timber sheeted front door with plain fanlight. To right of door is single storey gabled extension (attached to gable of main house) which has two sliding sash and case windows with Georgian panes. To left of door is similar, but slightly taller, window. To left of this is former shop front with plain sheeted timber double door with fanlight with simple ‘geometric’ tracery. Shop window (on right of door) is large and has Georgian panes and a panelled stall riser. Shop front all encased with simple panelled timber pilasters, sign board and cornice. Window to left of shop front similar to those on single storey extension. Six evenly spaced windows to first floor same as single storey extension. Front facade finished in limestone chip render with smooth cement surrounds to door and windows, with smooth cement also to base, wall edges and as first floor ‘cill course’.

Exposed gables rendered. There is a small lean-to single storey kitchen extension to the rear, with a corrugated asbestos roof and large modern steel window to S and a modern partly glazed door to W. To immediate left of the lean-to, (on ground floor of single storey section of main house), there is a window opening with modern frame. To first floor far right there is a similar window, with evidence of a former window opening to the left of this (now blocked in brick). Small Georgian paned window as front to far right on ground floor (set at a very low level).

The rear and gables are finished in an unpainted rough cast (some of which has fallen away at the rear). The gabled roof is covered in an artificial ‘slate’. Four (evenly spaced) rendered chimney stacks. Cast iron gutters and down spouts.

Historical information

A building is shown on this site on the OS map of 1834, much the same as today. It may be assumed that this house dates back to the early nineteenth century at least, but the irregular arrangement of the façade suggests it may once have been part single storey. The shop section of the building once housed a spirit grocers, but ceased trading (according to the present owner) no later than the early years of the twentieth century.

A single storey extension formerly attached to the E gable (and noted in the original survey of this house in Feb. 1971) has been demolished.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI OS/6/3/18/1 Ordnance Survey map, Co Down sh 18, 1834
2 PRONI OS/6/3/18/2 Ordnance Survey map, Co Down sh 18, 1834

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
H-. Alterations detracting from building
H+. Alterations enhancing the building
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Two storey vernacular house of probable pre 1834 origin, substantially intact and possessing a quaint shop front and Georgian paned sash windows, but also now with limestone chip render. Set at the side of a ‘T’ junction this building has a certain prominence, a sense of antiquity and has the appearance of once being an inn.