Campview

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Campview is a two storey gabled, rubble built house (with extensive outbuildings) situated right on the W side of the Scrabo Road and set into the steep bank of Scrabo Hill (almost directly below the Londonderry monument). On the opposite side of the road is a badly dilapidated set of outbuildings (and a former dwelling) all of which may once have been associated with this property. The
setting of the whole collection is unusual, but unattractive and the close proximity of the road to the house appears hazardous as one steps out from the front entrance right on to the road itself.

The front facade faces E. To the right of centre is an ‘Ards’ doorway with plain pilasters, keystone, timber panelled door with semicircular head with leaded ‘fanlight’. Name ‘Camp view’ painted on to door surround. To the left of the doorway are two windows now with modern timber frames, with a similar window to the right. To the centre and right on the first floor are three similar windows, with a modern ‘oriel’ window (which covers a larger opening), to the far left. This opening used to be a store (loft) door until recently, with a small pulley projection above.

Attached to the N gable is a long row of two storey outbuildings (slightly shorter than the house), now somewhat dilapidated. To the left on the E facade of the outbuildings are two doorways, the left of which has a timber sheeted door. To the centre and right are three large openings with segmental arch heads with brick dressings. The opening to the far right has a wrought iron gate. To the first floor are four unevenly spaced store doorways with dilapidated looking timber sheeted doors.

Attached to the S gable of the house is a smaller two level outbuilding, also badly dilapidated. The E facade of this section has a timber sheeted door to the left a small window opening in the centre and a large doorway to the right with timber sheeted sliding doors. The S gable of this section was a small upper level window opening.

The rear of this building sits right into the steep bank of Scrabo hill. The bank itself is badly overgrown and consequently much of the rear was obscured. There appear to be three windows to the upper floor of the rear of the house, as front, and a single storey extension to the ground floor, but other than these little else was visible.

The entire facade is unrendered and painted, but much of the paint was worn.

The roofs are covered in Bangor blue slates with two greyish-yellow brick chimney stacks to the gables of the house.

On the opposite side of the road is a badly dilapidated collection of what now appear to be outbuildings, but may once have incorporated a dwelling. These buildings are also rubble built and are situated on the slope of the hill (below the road). At the roadside they all appear single storey, but are probably (in part at least) split level. One is built with its gable onto the roadside, with a set of stone steps to a door on the gable. The roofs have lost much of their slates.

The area around these buildings is badly overgrown and much of the buildings have been obscured.

Historical information

There is a building shown on the site of this house, and also partly on the site of the present outbuildings, on the OS Map of 1833/4, and the site is shown much as today on the revised map of 1858-60. The valuation records of c.1833 do not appear to make any reference to the ownership of the properties. The present house looks mid nineteenth century, though it probably contains the fabric of the pre 1834 building.

This whole complex looks to have been of considerable local importance at one stage, could it have been connected with the near by quarries on Scrabo Hill?

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI VAL 1B/322 1st valuation, parish of Newtownards, townland of Scrabo, c.1833.
2 PRONI Ordnance Survey Maps 1st Edition 1833/4, Co. Down 5.
3 PRONI Ordnance Survey Maps 1st Revision 1858-60, Co. Down 5.
4 PRONI 2nd (‘Griffith’s’) valuation, parish of Newtownards, townland of Scrabo, 1863.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Two storey gabled house with ‘Ards’ doorway and extensive complex of outbuildings, all set right on the edge of the Scrabo Road on the slope of Scrabo Hill. This entire collection probably dates from the 1840s-50s and looks to have been of some local importance. The house appears to have been renovated somewhat in recent times and now has modern window frames. The outbuildings appear unused and are somewhat dilapidated.