Ravara House,

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Ravara House is a fairly large two storey, hipped roof, gentleman’s residence of c.1838 set at the end of a drive to the E of the Manse Road, roughly half a mile S of Killinchy.

The symmetrical front façade faces N. In the centre is a recently added flat roofed porch with glazed ‘French doors’, four pane sidelights and a large fanlight with tracery. The doorway is flanked with simple pilasters. To each side of the porch is an eight pane (sash-like) window flanked by pilasters. The porch is topped with a lintel frieze and cornice.

To the left and to the right of the porch is a sash window with Georgian panes. To the first floor are three similar but smaller windows the central of which is set on a slightly projecting bay. All first floor windows (to the N, E and W facades) rest on a cill course.

The E and W facades are identical with two ground floor windows and two to the first floor, all as front. In the centre at the rear is a two storey lean to flanked by single storey lean to sections. To the first floor (of the whole lean to ensemble) are four small-ish windows all with modern frames. To the centre on this floor is a timber sheeted door. To the first floor is a large sash (stairwell) window with Georgian panes, flanked by two much smaller windows with modern frames.

The N, E and W facades are finished in rusticated render at ground floor level with plain render to the first floor. Plain corner pilasters and chamfered base to N, E and W facades also. The rear façade is finished in rough cast. Eaves course. The roof is covered in pan tiles with two central brick chimney stacks. Cast iron rainwater goods. Courtyard of original looking, single and two storey, outbuildings to rear.

Historical information

Ravara House was built in c.1836-8, possibly to designs by Thomas Duff. The house and the land around it appear to have been originally owned by a man named Wallace but the building was leased soon after its completion to Rev. John Gamble, the first minister of Ballygowan Presbyterian church. Gamble died in 1854 and in the valuation returns of 1863 state that the house was then in the possession of a Michael Buckley. However, between the latter date and c.1890, the house (as well as its farm land) was purchased by the Ballygowan congregation for use as a manse, a function it retained until sold by the church in 1984.

The porch was built recently to designs by Robert McKinstry and replaced an earlier [?c.1940s] porch.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI OS maps 1st rev. 1858-60, Down 16.
2 PRONI 2nd valuation, Comber parish, c.1863.

Secondary sources
1 ‘Ballygowan Presbyterian Church…1838-1938’ (Belfast 1938).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Compact two storey, hipped roof, gentleman’s residence of c.1836-8, possibly by Thomas Duff, with recent entrance porch. The roof is now covered in pan tiles.