Newton House

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Newtown House is a medium sized two storey gabled farm house, probably dating from c.1840-50, with an ‘Ards doorway. The house is set on a slight rise at the end of a short lane to the W of the Ballyrainey Road, c.1.5 miles SW of Newtownards.

The front facade faces E and has a right of centre ‘Ards’ doorway with plain pilasters and modern glazed door with semicircular fanlight. Step to doorway. To the left of the doorway are two windows with PVC frames, with a similar window to the right. Four evenly spaced, but slightly smaller, similar windows to the first floor.

The S gable has a window (as previous) to the right on the first floor.

The N gable is blank.

To the rear is a slightly left of centre (mainly) gabled two level return. The return links to an outbuilding at the rear of the house. The S facade of the return has a modern glazed door to the far right with a large PVC kitchen window to the left. There is also a small single pane window in the centre of the upper level. the N facade of the return has a PVC window to the centre on the ground floor. The roof of the return to this side is dominated by a large flat roofed dormer with modern windows. To the left of the return (on the main house) is a PVC window to the first floor. To the right of the return on the main house, are two PVC windows to the ground floor and one to the first floor.

The entire facade is finished in lined render with chamfered quoins. The main roof is gabled with Bangor blue slates and four rendered chimney stacks. Cast iron rw goods.

Large outbuildings to W and SW. Former ‘walk in’ well in farm yard (now filled in).

Historical information

A building is shown on this site on the OS Map of 1833/4 but it appears to be sited only on the southern half of the present house. On the 1858 map, however, the site is shown much as today, thus indicating that this building probably dates from between c.1835 and c.1858. It is possible that the present house may have incorporated some of the fabric of the structure shown on the earlier map.
The valuation records of c.1833 note that the dwelling house on the site was in the possession of a William Steel.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI VAL 1B/322 p.50 1st valuation, parish of Dundonald, townland of Ballymagreehan, c.1833.
2 PRONI Ordnance Survey Maps, 1st ed. 1833/4, Co. Down sheet 5.
3 PRONI Ordnance Survey Maps, 1st rev. 1858-60, Co. Down sheet 5.
4 PRONI 2nd (‘Griffith’s’) valuation, parish of Dundonald, townland of Ballymagreehan, 1863.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Two storey farm house of possibly c.1840s-50s, with ‘Ards’ doorway but otherwise largely plain, and now sporting PVC windows and modern doors