’Thorndale’

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Two storey gabled house set amidst leafy surroundings on the western side of the village of Cloughy with a lower (two level) gabled extension attached to the SE gable, and another to the NW gable, which is currently undergoing conversion to two storey.

Front SW elevation has large off centre timber gabled ‘conservatory’/porch surrounding front entrance. To left of porch is a single sliding sash and case window with horizontal and vertical astragals, with two similar (but slightly smaller) windows further to the left (on former single storey extension). Window to right of porch (same as that on immediate left of porch), with single storey gabled ‘store’ extension to the right of this. To first floor of original house is window to both left and right similar to before with off centre tripartite sash and case window in middle, with horizontal and vertical astragals. The newly built first floor now attached to the right of the original house has two windows, with horizontal and vertical astragals, made to resemble sliding sash and case, but which have top hung upper openers.

The NW gable has a similar upper level window, with two similar windows to the rear of the newly built first floor. The rear of the original section of the house has various sliding sash and case windows with horizontal and vertical astragals, with similar windows to the large full height flat roofed extension/return in centre. A large but shallow metal water tank covers the roof of this return.

The rear of the ‘store’ extension to the left has a large timber double garage door in centre and an upper level smaller double door set in a gable. There are two small louvered ventilation openings to either side of the upper level doorway. There is also a small gable above the right rear window on the newly built first floor to the extension at the right.

SE gable of ‘store’ has small four pane window at upper level near eaves, with small boarded opening at right on ground floor.

Original house and extensions finished in pebbledash render, with newly built first floor section to NW as yet unrendered. Smooth cement surrounds to windows of original house and ground floor of NW extension.

All roofs gabled and pitched with Bangor blue slates and two potless yellow brick chimneys with dentilled corbelling (to original house). Mixture of cast iron and PVC gutters and down spouts.

Historical information

A building is shown on this site, much the same as today, on the 1834 OS Map, which suggests that this house dates from the early nineteenth century at least, and that the extensions to both gables appear to have been built by this time also. The somewhat uneven spacing of the windows on the original two storey centre section of the house is unusual.
This house is situated in Calhame Gardens. The word 'calhame' appears to have meant 'cold home', a euphemism for a cemetery. Was there once a burial ground close to the site of this house?

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI Ordnance Survey Maps, 1st Edition, 1834, Co. Down 25.
2 PRONI VAL 1B/310 1st valuation, Castleboy, c.1835.
3 Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland Vol.7: Parishes of County Down II, ed. Angelique Day and Patrick McWilliams (QUB 1991), pp. 26-7.
4 PRONI Ordnance Survey Maps, 1st revision, 1860, Co. Down 25.
5 PRONI 2nd valuation, Castleboy, c.1863.

Secondary sources
1. A.J. Hughes and R.J. Hannan 'Place-Names of Northern Ireland Vol. Two, County Down II- The Ards', p. 79.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Much extended two storey vernacular farm house of probable pre 1834 origin, but part single storey until recently. The window frames are still sash throughout though the façade is now covered in pebbledash.