Castle Toppy

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Castle Toppy is a one and a half storey gabled farm house delightfully situated on the brow of a hill (with a commanding view) c.2 miles N of Newtownards.

Front S facade has a right of centre ‘Ards’ doorway, with timber sheeted door and plain semicircular fanlight. Three steps to door. To the left of the doorway are three recently installed ‘casement’ windows with many small (‘Georgian’-like panes). Two similar windows to right of door.

The E gable has a similar window in the centre of the ground floor with two small six pane windows (similar in style to before) to the upper level. To the upper left hand corner of this gable is a crude (or naive) ‘plaque’ which reads ‘D DEMPSTER 1869’ below which are two crosses (or Xs) and a picture of a horse. To the left on the rear is a window as front, with another to the far right.

In between these is a small single storey lean to projection with a smallish eight pane window to its rear (N) facade and a sheeted timber door to the E facade. Above this, to the upper level of the main house, is a smallish six pane window, similar in style to those at front. Attached (roughly at a right angle) to the far right of the rear elevation is a tidy looking line of gabled outbuildings, which enclose the yard to the W.

The W gable has a window (as front) to the centre of the upper level and one to the left on the ground floor.

The walls are finished in lined render.

The roof is pitched with Bangor blue slates and three concrete brick chimney stacks. PVC rw goods.

All of the window frames in this house have been replaced in fairly recent times. All of the larger windows were originally sash with horizontal glazing bars.

Historical information

Though a grouping of buildings are shown on this site on the OS Maps of 1834 and c.1858-60, none appear to match the positioning of the present house exactly. Thus, it seems likely that this house is post 1860 in date, a suggestion supported (but not verified) by the date of 1869 on the ‘plaque’ on the east gable.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI Ordnance Survey Maps, 1st Edition, 1834, Co. Down 5.
2 PRONI VAL 1B/3422 1st valuation, Newtownards, c.1835.
3 PRONI Ordnance Survey Maps, 1st Revision, 1860, Co. Down 5.
4 PRONI 2nd valuation, Newtownards, c.1863.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Substantial and delightfully situated one and a half storey farm house, with ‘Ards’ doorway, probably dating from the 1860s. The original window frames have recently been replaced and the interior may have been modernised.