Historic Buildings Record · Northern Ireland
Ballyrickard House
Ballyrickard, Ards and North Down, Northern Ireland
The record
- Designation
- Record only (not listed)
- Grade
- Record Only
- Type
- House
- Date of construction
- 1860 - 1879
- Address
- Ballyrickard House, 3 Moate Road, Ballyrickard, Newtownards, Co. Down, BT23 4XA
- Townland
- Ballyrickard
- Council
- Ards and North Down
- Country
- Northern Ireland
- Coordinates
- 54.56151, -5.70801
- Date of survey
- 17 September 1998
- HB reference
- HB24/13/075
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 3 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1854 "Ireland." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
The Department's description
Exterior description and setting
Large two storey farm house of 1862 situated to the N of the Moate Road, roughly half way between Newtownards and Comber. This house is currently undergoing substantial alteration.
Front E facade has a large centrally located rounded porch (currently under construction), with an extremely large picture window to the left and to the right. To the first floor are five, evenly spaced, windows. All windows to the front are currently covered in black (bin-liner) plastic, however PVC frames were waiting to be fully installed.
The S gable has a PVC patio doorway to the left on the ground floor. Directly above this to the first floor is a large picture window with PVC frame, with two small fixed light windows at attic level.
The N gable has two small attic windows as S gable. Between these windows is a small plaque inscribed ‘Built by Thomas, James & Hugh McCracken- 1862’.
Roughly in the centre of the rear facade is a large flat roofed two storey return/extension with various modern PVC windows and doors. To the left of the extension (on the main rear facade) is a large picture window to the ground and to the first floor (both with PVC frames). The facade is largely covered in rough cast render, with the front facade having rough render in preparation (presumably) for its final more regular rough cast top layer. The main roof is gabled and covered in Bangor blue slates with two rendered chimney stacks. Rendered parapets. Sections of metal rw goods.
Large collection of outbuildings to rear, ‘landscaped’ garden to front with drive to Newtownards/Comber Road.
Historical information
As the plaque states this house was ‘built by Thomas, James and Hugh McCracken’ in 1862, and appears to have replaced an earlier dwelling on this site. It is noted in the valuation records of 1863 with the ‘house offices and land’ having a high rateable value of £72. The house came into possession of the present owner’s grandmother in 1968. It is currently undergoing complete renovation.
References- Primary sources
1 PRONI OS maps 1859-60, Co. Down 10.
2 PRONI 2nd valuation, Comber parish, Ballyrickard td., 1863.
Criteria for listing: architectural interest
Not listed
Criteria for listing: historic interest
Not listed
Evaluation
Large two storey farm house of 1862 currently undergoing substantial alteration. The interior layout has been altered somewhat and almost all original detailing has been removed.
Nearby in the register
- The MoateOutbuildingsunder 1 mi
- Ballyrickard BridgeBridgeunder 1 mi
- Railway bridgeBridgeunder 1 mi
- The Booten (East),Houseunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.