3 Drumawhey Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Recently much extended and renovated one and a half storey house, on the W side of a long lane to the S of the Drumawhey Road, c.3.5 miles W of Millisle. Formerly this house was a relatively simple rectangular building, it has now been greatly extended to the N and W sides and has more than doubled in size in the process.

‘Front ‘S facade has a central panelled and glazed door with modern timber window to each side. Directly above the doorway is a semicircular headed window opening (with modern frame) set is a gabled half dormer.

Main E gable has two upper level windows, with modern frames.

The rear and W gable are now completely dominated by an extremely large modern return/extension, which is one and a half storey to the rear, but slopes to one storey to the W side, where it also extends from the W gable and joins with a hipped roof conservatory/sun room section.

The entire facade is covered in a dry dash (mainly) limestone chip render, with quoins.

All roofs are pitched with asbestos free slates, with various dormers and half dormers to the modern extension and two large Velux windows to the ‘front’ of the original roof. Two yellow brick chimneys to original roof. PVC rw goods.

The original section of this house dates from the eighteenth century and began life as single storey, the roof was raised slightly in c.1880 and the extensions added c.1980.

Historical information

This house has been in the present owner’s family since the later eighteenth century and is shown on the OS Maps of 1833/4 and 1858-60. The building was originally single storey, but was raised in height around c.1880 at which time the gabled half dormer was added at the front as well as decorative surrounds to the front windows and door. A galley kitchen at the rear may have been built at this time also, or during the early twentieth century. In c.1980, the current owner completely gutted the house and added the extensions, demolishing the gallery kitchen and rear out houses in the process. It had been the owner’s intention to save the decorative surrounds to the front openings, but unfortunately they had to be removed. During this work the owner discovered a large deliberately made ‘cavity’ in the rear wall, which local folk memory (probably correctly) suggests may have been used to conceal pikes during the turbulent 1790s.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI VAL 1B/34 Valuation records for the townland of Drumawhy (Parish of Newtownards) 1830s.
2 PRONI Ordnance Survey Maps 1st Edition 1833/4, Co. Down 6.
3 PRONI Ordnance Survey Maps 1st Revision 1858-60, Co. Down 6.
4 PRONI ‘Griffith’s’ valuation for the townland of Drumawhy (Parish of Newtownards) 1863.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Mainly one and a half storey house, of probable eighteenth century origin, raised in height c.1880 and greatly extended and completely renovated in c.1980.