Cattogs,

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Substantial two storey gabled farmhouse of probable pre 1834 (and possible 18th century) origin, situated on a rise to the N of the Ballygraffan Road, c.2 miles SW of Comber and a short distance from the W coast of Strangford Lough.

The front (W) facade is symmetrical. In the centre of the ground floor is a timber panelled door with plain fanlight. To either side of the doorway are two relatively small (for a facade of this size) windows with PVC sash frames. To the first floor are five slightly smaller windows with similar frames. Somewhat ironically, the broad boxes on these PVC frames help maintain this building's feeling of antiquity, if only because the original frames probably had similar sized boxes.

To the S of the main W facade (and flush with it) is the W face of a single storey gabled section which has a fairly large window with Georgian-like panes. The S gable of this section is blank as is the exposed section of the S gable of the main house. The exposed section of the N gable has a PVC window to the left on the first floor. At ground floor level on this gable there is a large gabled conservatory. To the E this conservatory backs onto a single storey gabled outbuilding.

To the left of centre on the rear is a full height gabled return which merges to the N with a larger two storey flat roofed extension, obviously added at a later date than the return. To the first floor of the return are two PVC windows, of varying size, with a glazed PVC door to the right. To the first floor are four further PVC windows, also of varying size. To the left of the return, on the main house is a PVC window to the each floor, with another to the rear on the single storey section to the S. All rear window openings look 'modern' (those to the main rear facade appear to have been slightly enlarged in recent times) and slim concrete cills are in evidence.

The entire facade is covered in rough cast and painted. The roof is covered in natural slate with two chimney stacks in fairly recent looking reddish-brown brick.

Large collection of gabled outbuildings to the rear, with that to the E side two storey.

Historical information

A house is shown on this site on the OS map of 1834 which the (almost) contemporary valuation records tell us was in the hands of a Robert Shaw and measured 41ft x 23 x 15. These dimensions are exactly the same as the present minus the single storey section to the south and the rear extensions. The valuers graded the house 'B-', which means that it was (in their judgement- or to their knowledge) a building of perhaps 50 years old- that is perhaps 18th century.

The Shaw family remained in possession of the house until the 1970s when it was acquired by the present owner. By this stage the flat roofed extension had been added to the rear, joining to the gabled return which appears to have been added in the mid 20th century. The conservatory was added by the present owner, c.1980s.

Prior to the mid 1800s the main coast road passed this house a short distance to the west, a passage still marked by the hedge boundary of the front lawn. Sometime between 1834 and 1858, probably due to land reclaimation along the coast of the lough, the road was radically redirected some hundreds of yards to the east of the property, where it is to this day.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI D.654/LE51/1-25 Londonderry Papers- leases relating to Cattogs townland 1750-1849.
2 PRONI VAL 1B/316A pp.52-3 1st valuation, Comber.
3 PRONI OS/1/3/10 OS map, 1st ed. 1834, Down 10.
4 PRONI OS/6/3/10/3 OS map, 1st rev. 1858, Down 10.
5 PRONI 2nd valuation, Comber.
6 George Henry Bassett ‘County Down Guide and Directory’ (Dublin 1886), pp.303-305.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Substantial two storey farmhouse of possible 18th century origin. Despite a modern flat roofed extension to the rear and PVC window frames and door, this building still preserves something of its original character, especially the front facade whose small scale window openings hint at a dwelling of considerable age.