Dry Closet

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Small rubble-built single storey dry closet (c.2.5m x 2.5m) with slated hipped roof, situated a short distance to the NE of Ard View house, half a mile S of the village of Killinchy. The doorway is to the W face and consists of a sheeted timber door with three pane sidelight to left (two horizontal glazing bars). The roof is topped with an urn pinnacle.
The building is surrounded by trees and bushes and is approached via a semicircular headed archway (with brick dressings) in a rubble-built wall.

Historical information

This dry closet may have built at the same time as Ard View house, which may date from 1722, though the urn decoration (if original) could suggest a slightly later date. It is shown on the OS map of 1834. The building may have become obsolete in the mid 19th century when internal water closets began to be installed in many larger houses, though it may have continued in use (for farm hands etc.) well into the 20th century.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI [Library] 'Taylor’s & Skinner’s maps of the Roads of Ireland'- map 281.
2 Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland Vol.7: Parishes of County Down II, ed. Angelique Day and Patrick McWilliams (QUB 1991), p.91.
3 PRONI OS maps 1st ed. 1834, Co. Down 17.
4 PRONI VAL 1B/335 p.51 (204) 1st valuation Killinchy parish, Killinchy Td., c.1835.
5 PRONI OS maps 1st rev. 1859-60, Co. Down 17.
6 PRONI 2nd valuation, Killinchy parish, Killinchy td., 1861.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
H-. Alterations detracting from building
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest
Z. Rarity

Evaluation

Small, rubble-built, hipped roof dry closet of possible 18th century origin, with internal seating for three persons, but with outer seats now boarded over. This uncommon building has group value with Ard View house.