Rose Cottage

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Single storey ‘L’ shaped dwelling of probable 18th century origin, set of the E side of the Killinchy Road, c.2 miles NW of the village of Killinchy.

Front SW facade has a left of centre Edwardian looking glazed and gabled porch with intricate tracery an finial to ‘tympanum’. This porch encloses the panelled entrance door which has an elliptical arch ‘radial’ fanlight with four pane sidelights. To the left of this are two large-ish sash windows, with another to the right. Attached to the NW end of this original section of the house is a portion set at a right angle, which had three sash windows (of varying size) to its front (SE) facade.

The SE gable of the original section merges with a lean to portion which has been added to the rear at some point. This gable has two sash windows to the centre and right, with horizontal glazing bars. The window to the right is set at a lower level.

The NW gable of the original section has a window, as previous gable, to the left.

The rear of the original section is dominated by the lean to section which has a timber sheeted door to the far left followed by three windows as gables. To the short NE face of this lean to is a large modern kitchen window. To the right of the lean to (on the original rear facade) is a window as gables.

The rear of the section which sits at a right angle to the original house has an unplanned, haphazard look about it. To the far right is a projecting flat roofed section with two modern windows to its SW face. To the right of this section (on the rear facade proper) is a fixed light window, then a timber sheeted door, followed further to the right by a window, door, window, door, which belong to a store section into which this portion of the house merges.

The entire facade is finished in ‘salt & pepper’ pebbledash with smooth render base and surrounds to openings. The rear of the store section is finished in plain cement render.

The roof is gabled and covered in asbestos slates with five yellow brick chimneys. Cast iron rw goods.

Large collection of rubble built outbuildings to N and SW.

Historical information

During recent renovations, the current owner found a sword and long bayonet up the sitting room chimney. The sword appears to be 18th century and both artefacts may have been stashed there in the lead up to 1798, thus perhaps indicating that this house was standing in the later 1700s. The building is shown on the OS map of 1834, much as today though the original section is free standing and not yet linked to the NW portion in ‘L’ shaped fashion. At this stage the valuation returns tell us that the house was occupied by a Robert Lawson. By the time of the revised OS map of 1859-60 the house had assumed its present shape and also its name, ‘Rose Cottage’, and was in possession of a William Barry who leased the dwelling (and surrounding lands) from the Londonderry estate. The current owner believes that the house once served as a small coaching Inn, though he appears to have based this belief solely on the arrangement of the buildings within the whole grouping.

The house has obviously been altered at various times, with the last major change occurring c.1900 when the porch, render and current window frames may have been added.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI OS maps 1st ed. 1834, Co. Down 17.
2 PRONI VAL 1B/320 p.40 (80) 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., 1861.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Much altered ‘L’ shaped single storey house of probable 18th century origin, which probably assumed its basic current form c.1840s with later alterations of c.1900. Much of the 19th century layout is still discernible and some detailing.