Ashville

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Reasonably large, but compact and sturdy looking, two storey gentleman’s residence of c.1845 with hipped roof, rusticated render and entrance portico. The house is set within its own grounds to the SW side of the Killyleagh Road, roughly one mile SW of Killinchy village.

Front NE facade has central entrance portico with twin square columns supporting simple entablature with cornice and shallow pitched pediment above. The outer sides of the portico each have a narrow, multi-paned window between the outer square column and a pilaster. The portico encloses a panelled door with three pane fanlight and two pane sidelights. The portico has a recent looking Tyrolean finish, however this does not detract from its overall impact.

To the left of the entrance are two sash windows with Georgian panes and simple moulded surrounds. Two similar windows to the right of the entrance. To the first floor are five similar windows set on a cill course. The centre window is set within a slightly projecting bay. The lower section of the front facade (as far as the cill course) is finished in rusticated render. The facade also has simple pilasters as quoins and a tall chamfered plinth.

The NW and SE facades have similar render as the front, with two windows to each floor, all also as front.

The rear facade has a large full height projecting stairwell section with a flat roof. To each side of this projection is a single storey lean to section. The SW facade of the stairwell section has a timber sheeted door to the left on the ground floor with a sash window with Georgian panes (8 over 8) to the right. At landing level is a large sash window with segmental arch head, Georgian panes and margins. To either side of this window is a small sash window with Georgian panes. The single storey lean to sections each have a sash window (much as before) to their SW facades. To the left of the stairwell projection (on the rear of the main house) is a window, as before.
The rear is finished in plain render with Tyrolean finish to projections. No surrounds to windows at rear.

The roof is hipped with two central rendered chimney stacks (with corbelling) set side on. The roof is covered in Bangor blue slates with a shallow parapet.

To the rear of this house is an extensive collection of original rubble built outbuildings surrounding a farm yard.

At the main road there are two separate curved gate screens with square gate piers that add to the buildings importance.

Historical information

Ashville appears to have been built by the Rev. David Anderson, who became minister of Killinchy Presbyterian church in December 1835. The exact date of construction is uncertain, ranging sometime between c.1835 and 1859, but the style of the windows suggests that it may have been built closer to the former, perhaps c.1840-45. The land on which the house was erected was leased (from Lord Dufferin) to the family of Anderson’s wife, a Miss Harper of Killyleagh.

After Anderson’s death in 1871 Ashville passed to his nephew, a Dr. Dickson, who sold it to the grandmotherr of the present owner in 1905.

The present owner (2004) reported that in 1914 the was rented to a Captain Hamilton who drilled Ulster Volunteer Force members in the rear yard and also stored arms in the outbuildings. Captain Hamilton and many of the volunteers went to the Great War and Captain Hamilton did not return. His wife lived on in the house until the war ended.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI OS maps 1st rev., 1859-60, Co. Down 10.
2 PRONI 2nd valuation, Killinchy parish, Carrigullian td., 1861.

Secondary sources
1 Rev. David Stewart 'Killinchy Presbyterian church...' (Belfast 1930), pp.46-7.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Fine, compact and sturdy looking two storey gentleman’s residence of c.1845 with hipped roof, rusticated render and entrance portico, delightfully set within its own grounds. This house appears to be largely intact both inside and out and has a large collection of equally original outbuildings beyond a large yard to the rear.