160 Killinchy Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Two storey gabled house of possible mid 19th origin, situated at the end of a short lane to the NE of the Killinchy Road, c.3.5 miles NW of Killinchy.

Front SW facade at first sight appears symetrical but is not. To the left of centre is an ‘Ards’ doorway with a modern glazed door and semicircular ‘radial’ fanlight. To the left of the doorway is a sash window with Georgian panes (8 over 8). To the right of the doorway is a similar window. To the first floor are three similar windows.

The SE gable has a lean to green house attached to the ground floor whilst there is a plain sash window to the right on the first floor. The NW gable is blank.

To the right of centre at the rear is a large full height return. To the SE of the return is a modern glazed door to the ground floor with a double sash window to the right. To the left on the first floor is a sash window as gable. The gable of the return has a sash window to the left on the first floor. To the NW facade of the return is a double sash window to the ground floor and a single sash window to the first floor. To the ground floor left on the rear facade of the main section of the house is a sash window.

The entire facade is finished in lined cement render and unpainted. The roof is gabled with an overhang and plain barges. Bangor blue slates. Three rendered chimney stacks one to each gable. Cast iron rw goods.

The house is set on a slope and the ground level to the rear is much higher.

Historical information

Though a building is shown on this site on the OS map of 1834 and revised map of 1859-60, the plan on both maps is slightly different than that we see today suggesting that this building may be post 1860. Moreover the revised map notes that there was a bench mark on a window cill of the house at that date, which the present building does not appear to have. The ‘Ards’ doorway and Georgian paned sash windows complicate matters somewhat, for though they appear to be indicators of an early 19th century date, such features frequently appear on farm houses as late as the 1860s. The roof overhang also suggests a building of the later 1800s (or even later) though the roof may have been rebuilt when the return appears to have been added (or extended).

The valuation returns of c.1835 note that the house on the site at this time was in possession of a Widow Browne.

The Current owner (2005) states that the original house was constructed in 1803 by James Alexander and was renovated by his grandson David Alexander in 1926. It was then modernised by Mary Eleanor Alexander and Lilias Alexander (daughters of David Alexander) c 1952. At this time it was extended over a well - now the kitchen rear return. Part of the original building had been a farm shop and possibly also sold baked goods - now demolished. There is a small door in the living room which lead to the shop which now opens into a cupboard. The current owner also said that the house was orginallly 1.5 storeys and that the original staircase faced the front door but it was removed to an outbuildng, and the current staircase was positioned where the old scullery used to be.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI OS maps 1st ed.1834, Co. Down 10.
2 PRONI VAL 1B/320 p.29, Kilmood parish, Lisbarnet td., c.1835.
3 PRONI OS maps 1st rev. 1859-60, Co. Down 10.
4 PRONI 2nd valuation, Kilmood parish, Lisbarnet td., 1861.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Two storey farm house possibly dating from the early to mid nineteenth century, with later return extension, c.1954 with a mixture of victorian and mid twentieth century internal detailing. This house has been developed over a century and still has good proportions and detailing and also enjoys a fine unspoilt rural setting with mature trees framing the site.