80 Comber Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Single storey gabled house, originally built in 1794 but recently completely renovated and extended at the rear. The house is situated at the end of a lane to the W of the Comber Road, less than a mile NW of Killinchy.

Front (E) facade has a central (and somewhat narrow) timber panelled and glazed door with semicircular radial fanlight and large two pane sidelights. To the right of the door is a large window with a modern frame made to resemble double sash with vertical glazing bars. To the left is a similar window. Between the right hand window and the door is a small stone panel inscribed ‘Built by Wm. Waddell 1794’. Both main gables are blank.

The rear has been extended and has two two storey projections. The projection to the N is an asymmetric gabled roof. To the N facade is a small two pane window to the ground floor. To the rear facade is a timber sheeted door to the left (next to a ‘chamfered’ edge to the wall), with a ‘sash’ (i.e. modern) window to the right of this and a smaller ‘sash’ window to the first floor.

Attached to the S facade of this projection (and to the larger projection to the far right) is a lean to section with modern patio doors.
The large projection to the far right has a modern window to the S facade and a gabled half-dormer to the N facade with a ‘double sash’ window (as front).

To the far left on the rear facade of the main house is a window as front.

The facade is finished in a contrived looking lumpy render and is largely painted.

All roofs are gabled and have Bangor blue slates. Three small cast iron skylights to front, Velux window to rear lean to. Three brick chimney stacks to main roof. PVC rw goods. Round gate pillar attached to right on front facade.

Historical information

A building is shown on this site on the OS maps of 1834 and 1859-60 and, as the panel on the wall states, the house appears to have been built in 1794. The valuation records of c.1835 state that the house was then in possession of a David Donnan, whilst by 1861 it was leased (from the Londonderry estate through a middleman) by a John Darby. The rear projections appear to be post 1960.
The house was renovated c.1970 [?windows enlarged at this stage or earlier] and again recently.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI OS maps 1st ed. 1834, Co. Down 17.
2 PRONI VAL 1B/320 p.42 1st valuation, Kilmood parish, Ballyministragh Td., c.1835.
3 PRONI OS maps 1st rev. 1859-60, Co. Down 17.
4 PRONI 2nd valuation, Kilmood parish, Ballyministragh Td., c.1861.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Single storey house of 1794 renovated on several occasions in recent years and now has modern window frames [?in enlarged openings to front] and a thoroughly modern interior. There are several relatively large two storey projections to the rear.