1 Ardmillan Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Compact two storey house, probably built c.1850, set on the S side of the Ardmillan Road (near the Junction with the Killinchy Road), c.1.5 miles NW of Killinchy.

Front W facade is symmetrical with a central panelled and glazed door with three pane fanlight. To the left is a sash window with margin panes (two small panes to each vertical side of each sash). To the right is a similar window and to the first floor are three similar but smaller windows.

The N gable has two windows to the ground floor with modern frames whose styling makes some attempt to mimic the style of the frames to the front. There is a similar window to the right on the first floor.

The ground floor of the S gable is completely covered by a lean to conservatory within which there are French doors (on the left hand side of the gable). To the first floor is a window with modern metal frame.

To the rear is a centrally positioned return with modern recessed door and large metal window to the S face and a sash window (with horizontal glazing bar) and a smaller window (with modern frame) to the N facade. On the rear facade of the main house is a window (as front) to the left on the ground floor and two metal framed windows to the first floor.

The front facade and gabled are finished in lined but unpainted cement render. The front facade is partly covered in climbing plant growth. The rear and the return in unpainted rough cast. All roofs are gabled with Bangor blue slates. The main roof has a slight overhang with decorative barges and two rendered gable chimney stacks. PVC rw goods.

Dry closet to S (next to gable of neighbouring ‘barn’).

Historical information

A building is shown on this site on the 1834 OS map, however, it appears to have a smaller footprint than the original section of the present house and is probably an earlier dwelling, which the contemporary valuation returns note was then in possession of one Adam Shiel. The building we see today is more likely to be that shown on the revised map of 1859-60 and marked ‘Dispensary’, and which the 1861 valuation records note was leased from William Barry Ritchie by Dr. Ringland. Old medicine bottles found within the house by the present owner support this evidence thus suggesting that the house was built between c.1835 and 1859, possibly c.1850.

The return does not seem to be original and may have been added in the later 19th or early twentieth century. The last major alteration to the property occurred in 1960 when previous owners commissioned an architect named L. Redmond to carry out alterations which included the broadening of the windows to the first floor at the rear, the insertion of a new opening on each gable (a window on the north gable and a doorway to the south) as well as the renovation of the kitchen/return and the dividing of the main room to the south on the ground floor to form a bathroom. The conservatory was added at this time also.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI OS maps 1st ed. 1834, Co. Down 16.
2 PRONI VAL 1B/323 p.19 1st valuation, Tullynakill parish, Lisbane td., c.1835.
3 PRONI OS maps 1st rev. 1859-60, Co. Down 16.
4 PRONI 2nd valuation, Tullynakill parish, Lisbane td., 1861.
5 Plans by L. Redmond showing alterations to No.1 Ardmillan Road, 1960 (in possession of current owner).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Compact two storey house of c.1840-50 with return of c.1900 and other alterations of c.1960. Both internally and externally this house still retains much of its original appearance, however, the changes carried out to the rear and gable openings in c.1960 are not is keeping with the character of the house and have adversely affected the character of this early Victorian residence.