Manor House NW extension, Manor House, High Street, Donaghadee, Co Down

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

The NW extension to the Manor House is a long single storey gabled building probably originally built as a stable block, now only partially used as a store. The block extends from the NW end of the Manor House along the NE side of High Street, meeting the gable of a two storey house further along the terrace.

Front SW facade has left of centre slightly projecting bay containing ‘elliptical’ arch headed carriage entrance with timber sheeted double doors with render forming channel ‘jointed’ ‘voussoirs’, with channel ‘jointing’/rustication to rest of bay. The bay is topped with a parapet, squat pilasters and panel frieze. To the right of this bay are 7 tall window-like recesses. To the far right the extension merges with a short single storey section of the Manor House proper which has a sash window with Georgian panes.

To the left of the entrance bay are to window like recesses (as right) on either side of a semicircular arch headed door-like recess with moulded ‘in and out’ voussoirs. Just to the left of the entrance bay is a channel ‘jointed’ pilaster. The front facade is finished in lined render and painted. A section to the far right is finished in rough cast (like the house itself). The front facade is topped with a parapet.To the rear the ground level is lower and the building is two storeys in height. The rear is finished in rough cast and has a series of large doorways (many now without doors), a pedestrian door and some small windows. To the upper floor is an odd assortment of sash windows, louvered openings and a small four pane roundel window (above the carriage arch).

The roof is gabled and covered with Bangor blue slates. There are three rendered chimney stacks. That to the SE is much taller than the others and has pots. Cast iron rw goods.

To the rear and parallel to the front block is a 2 storey range of outbuildings in random rubble blackstone with gable ends and a Bangor blue slated roof. The elevation facing the main house has varius door and window openings dressed in red brick. All doors and windows are original painted timber.

To the right of this block is a single storey outbuilding with a hipped roof and similar materials and detailing to the previous outbuilding.

Historical information

This building was probably originally built as a stable block with utility rooms. The date of construction is something of a mystery however. On the 1834 OS map the site appears to be completely occupied, but mainly by what appear to be houses, with a gap between the NW end of the Manor House and the rest of the terrace. Thus, it appears that only a very small portion the SE end of the block (if indeed it actually is this block) had been constructed at that point. A similar plan is shown on the revised map of 1858-60. Thus it appears that this extension, as we see it today, could well date from the latter half of the nineteenth century, perhaps added (or extended) at the same time as the rear extension to the Manor House itself, in c.1870.
For historical information regarding the Manor House see ref. HB24/07/009.

References- Primary sources

1. PRONI OS Maps, 1st ed., 1834, Co. Down 3.
2. PRONI VAL 1B/32 p.11 1st valuation, Donaghadee parish, Donaghadee., c.1836. [See also accompanying town plan.]
3. PRONI OS Maps 1st rev. 1858-60, Co. Down 3.4. PRONI 2nd (‘Griffith’s’) valuation Donaghadee parish, Donaghadee, 1863. [The town plan for the 2nd valuation is not available at PRONI and therefore it is difficult to match the properties listed in the valuation with actual buildings.]

Secondary sources

1. Hugh Dixon et al Historic buildings, groups of buildings, buildings of architectural importance in Donaghadee and Portpatrick (UAHS 1977), pp.17-18.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
H-. Alterations detracting from building
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Ranges of single and two storey storey stable/outbuildings to the Manor House, possibly dating from the latter half of the nineteenth century. The extension and other outbuildings have group value with the Manor House.