Former ‘Woburn Stores’

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Small single storey, gabled, basalt rubble built block with two properties, situated on a slight rise off Gorman’s Lane (off the Ballywalter Road) c.1 mile S of Millisle.

Front SE facade has a symmetrical arrangement with (from left) door window, window door. Both doorways are encased with pilasters, entablature and cornice and both window openings have simple surrounds with label moulding. All openings are now blocked.

Each gable has two attic windows, also blocked, with surrounds as front windows. A high wall (also in basalt rubble) extends from each gable to enclose the yards at the rear. Within the yards there are the remains of two large symmetrically placed (i.e. one to each property) rear ‘lean to’-like projections which have been partly demolished.

The rear facade of the main building has two, blocked, rear doors (one to each property) with small window openings above, also blocked but with remains of sash frames.

The front facade and gables (inc. yard walls) are unrendered with chamfered quoins to front. The rear facade is rendered.

The roof is pitched with Bangor blue slates, with a modern flat roofed dormer (now blocked) to the left at the front. Central rendered chimney stack (set behind ridge). Overhang to roof. NE gable has small modern lean to ‘store’’ attached at left.

Historical information

A building matching the plan and positioning of the present structure is shown on the OS Map of 1858-60 and marked ‘School Ho.’. The formal plan and basalt construction appear to suggest that this building may once have been a school house, however it may have been converted to two dwellings some time ago (with gable attic windows and surrounds to all openings added?). In recent times (c.1970s) the building served as a house and a shop, in the midst of a caravan site. Around this time the dormer was undoubtedly added.

On the 1833/4 OS Map the site was occupied by a slightly longer building.

Building demolished some time in 2000.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI VAL 1B/32 Valuation records for the townland of Ballyrolly (Parish of Donaghadee) 1830s.
2 PRONI Ordnance Survey Maps 1st Edition 1833/4, Down 7.
3 PRONI Ordnance Survey Maps 1st Revision 1858-60, Down 7.
4 PRONI ‘Griffith’s’ valuation for the townland of Ballyrolly (Parish of Donaghadee) 1863.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Small single storey basalt rubble built building, probably a former school house of c.1850s, later converted to two dwellings. The building is now derelict with all openings are blocked. (Building demolished during 2000)