Ravenbank,

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Odd two storey hipped roof block, possibly of c.1870s, containing two properties. The building is set back from the road side on the SW side of The Square.

The front (NE) façade is symmetrical. To the left is a fairly large gabled porch with panelled door with large fanlight with margin panes to the front. To either side of the door is a window with margin panes and the NW and SE faces of the porch each have a similar sized window both without margins. The gabled roof of the porch has a slight overhang which is supported on small brackets to the gable. The roof is covered in Bangor blue slates with hound’s tooth ridge tiles and finial (now broken). To the left and to the right of the porch is a window now with PVC frame and to the first floor are three similar (unevenly spaced) windows. The right half of the front façade (i.e. that to No.8) mirrors this arrangement but with margin panes to side porch windows and with finial to porch roof intact. There is a projecting course between the ground and first floor windows.

The SE façade is surprisingly narrow (the main section of the building is only one room deep) and has two windows (as front) to the ground and to the first floor with the projecting course between. The NW façade is similar but now merges with the NW face of a large two storey rear double gabled extension which has many large modern windows to all faces.

To the right at the rear is a small one and a half storey gabled return (belonging to No.6). To the ground floor of the gable of this return are two sash windows (covered by a grill), with a similar window to the upper level (near the gable apex). To the NW face of the of this extension is a modern door to the ground floor. To the left of this extension (on the rear façade proper) there are two first floor windows and one to the ground floor. That to the ground floor and to the left on the first floor both have PVC frames, whilst that to the right on the first floor as a segmental arch head and margin panes (with coloured glass).

The façade is finished in lined render and painted. Chamfered quoins to main building. The roof is covered in Bangor blue slates and has three centrally positioned rendered chimney stacks with corbelling and octagonal pots. Overhang to roof. Velux window to rear of each property. Cast iron rainwater goods.

Historical information

Though a building is shown on this site on the OS maps of 1834 and 1858, the present structure appears late 19th century. Locals have stated that the property(ies) once housed a police station which was originally intended to succeed that at Killinchy, but the station was short-lived as the villagers quickly became annoyed at certain policemens’ predilection for the local pubs! The premises also served as a part-time bank for some years also, however, like many other buildings in Ballygowan, Ravenbank may initially have had some connection with the railway [possibly the original residences for the station master etc.].

The layout to No.6 (now an office) is slightly awkward and the porches to the front of both it and No.8 appear slightly out of place. Could this building have witnessed great alteration early in its lifetime? Could it perhaps have originally been an asymmetric building with house to one side and office or stores to the other?

Primary sources
1 PRONI OS map 1st ed. 1834, Down 16.
2 PRONI VAL1B/316B, p.125 1st valuation Comber parish 1834.
3 PRONI OS map 1st rev. 1858-60, Down 16.
4 PRONI 2nd valuation Comber parish c.1863. [The accompanying valuation map’s reference number for the property then on this site is indistinct, thus making it difficult to tell who the building actually belonged to at this point.]

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Two storey, hipped roof block possibly dating from the 1870s, containing two properties. Each property has a fairly large gabled entrance porch which may not be original. No.8 has been greatly extended at the rear.