’Rocklands’

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Large two storey ‘L’ shaped gabled house set on a steep rise at the intersection of Cook’s Brae and the Rubane Road, just south of Kircubbin.

Front W elevation has central full height porch, with timber panel door to right (S) side and tripartite sliding sash and case window, with horizontal astragals, to front. To upper level of ‘porch’ is timber hipped roof ‘conservatory’ with decorative ridges. To either side of porch is a modern two pane window (in original openings) to ground and first floor.

S gable of main house has two similar windows to left. Large return (almost) flush with S gable with three windows as before to both ground and first floor.

N gable of main house blank.

Rear of main house has a sliding sash and case window, with horizontal astragals, to left on ground floor and two similar (but smaller) windows to the first floor. To left of rear of main house (at intersection with return) there is a full height lean to extension with a small modern window at both ground and upper level. N (rear) side of return has central timber back door with three pane semicircular arch fanlight, with a sliding sash and case window, with horizontal astragals, to both left and right, with three similar to first floor.

Main house finished in lined render, return unrendered showing rubble construction with brick dressings to all openings.

Roofs gabled and pitched with asbestos slates, with four rendered chimney stacks to main house and two to return. Overhang at eaves, and decorative barges, to main house.

Outbuildings to E of house.

Historical information

A building is shown on this site, with the same plan form as today, on the OS map of 1834. Whilst this house, however, may date at least to the early 1800s, it looks as if it has been substantially renovated in the late Victorian period, at which stage the porch was probably added, the house re-roofed (hence the distinctive Victorian overhang and barges), chimney stacks lengthened and windows replaced. The two storey return may have been added in the mid to late 1800s (perhaps built on the site of outbuildings), however, it is difficult to tell.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI Ordnance Survey Maps, 1st Edition, 1834, Co. Down 18.
2 Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland Vol.7: Parishes of County Down II, ed. Angelique Day and Patrick McWilliams (QUB 1991), p. 84-5. [c.1834]
3 PRONI VAL 1B/311A & B 1st valuation, Inishargy, c.1835.
4 PRONI Ordnance Survey Maps, 1st revision, 1860, Co. Down 18.
5 PRONI 2nd valuation, Inishargy, c.1863.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Large two storey farm house of possible early nineteenth century origin, but now largely Victorian in appearance with barge boards, decorative chimneys and an ill mannered full height porch to the front. Large full height return to rear.