Seaview House

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Large two storey gabled farm house of 1862 set at the end of a lane to the W of the Comber Road, just over a mile S of Newtownards.
Front E facade is symmetrical. In the centre of the ground floor is an ‘Ards’ doorway with panelled pilasters, archivolt and keystone. The door is a recent panelled and glazed variety. To the left is a sash window with vertical glazing bars. To the right is a similar sized window but with modern frame. To the first floor are three windows the 1st and 2nd with sash frames (as ground floor left) and the 3rd with a modern frame.

The N gable has a single storey shed section (with mono pitched roof) attached. The upper half of the gable is blank.

The S gable has a sash window to the left to the ground and to the first floor. This gable merges with the S facade of a massive full height gabled return, which has two levels to its E half and three at its W half. To the left is a small window with modern frame to ground level, with larger window (with similar frame) directly above. To the right is a ground floor sash window with window with modern frame directly above. To the immediate left of this is a small sash window.

To the N facade of the return there is a small sash window to ground floor level to left with two similar windows to left on upper (first floor) level. To the ground floor right is a timber sheeted rear door and sash window (to its right). To the first level are two sash windows, whilst directly above these (to the second level) are two small single pane windows.

The gable of the return has a timber sheeted store door at each level (three in all).

The entire facade is covered in rough cast with simple plain render surrounds to openings. All sections of the roof are covered in Bangor blue slates with rendered parapets and three rendered chimney stacks (one to centre of return roof). Cast iron rw goods.

Historical information

This house was built in 1862/63 by the McCracken family, some of whom also built Ballyrickard House (roughly half a mile to the south). The return appears to have been extended at some point, perhaps c.1880-1900. The current owner’s father renovated much of the interior in 1953, at which point all of the original fire places were removed.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Two storey gabled farm house of 1863 with ‘Ards’ doorway and large return. The return has been extended at some point and now has a complex layout with two levels to the original section and three to the later addition. The main house is largely intact but now has some modern window frames and a modern door. Of local significance, but not of sufficient special interest to merit listing.