58 Lisnabreeney Road East

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A two-storey five-bay farm house with portions pre-dating 1830, converted outbuildings to the rear arranged around a central court yard. Oblong plan form with modernized rear return. Located on the east of Lisnabreeny Road East close to the junction with Knockbracken Road, approximately 1km west of Merryland Cross Roads.

Pitched natural slate roof with clay ridge tiles; over hanging eaves with timber fascia and decorative barge boards. Cast-iron ogee moulded gutters and circular down pipes. Yellow brick chimney stack with moulded cornice course and clay pots. Ruled-and-lined cement rendered walling painted yellow ochre; long-and-short quoins; projected plinth course. Replacement 2/2 timber sliding sash windows with horizontal glazing bars; with horns; rectangular masonry painted cills. Replacement double-leaf timber front door with lattice over light.

The principal elevation faces south west and is symmetrically arranged. Centrally positioned door with two ground floor windows either side; five first floor windows over ground floor openings. Upper floor and right bay historic additions. Left bay raised and chimney alterations/removal c.1990.

The left gable has a single first floor window to the left. The ground floor has a large square-headed opening accommodating access to the abutting timber-frame on masonry plinth, glazed pitched roof conservatory.

The rear elevation is asymmetrically arranged. Two ground floor windows to the left with first floor windows directly over. Two further first floor windows located over the flat roof porch located at the re-entrant of the rear elevation and the rear return. The porch (now functioning as the principal entrance) has parapetted eaves and matches the details of the main house; single door flanked by side lights on the southeast cheek ; single window centrally located on the northeast cheek. The far right bay is completely abutted by two-storey five-bay gable ended return. Formerly a single storey hipped roof outbuilding it was renovated c.1990, by Nicholas Groves-Raines, Edinburgh; generally matching in details; matching ridge line; higher eaves course; asymmetrical elevations.

The right gable is blank; exposed timber cross-tie; wheel-guard stone to the left.

Setting:

The house sits just off the road, partially screened by a hedge; centrally located in the hedge is a gate with filigree wrought-irongate and piers. Access in to the centrally courtyard is via the right gable. The southeast block of rubble masonry outbuildings have been converted into stables; the northeast block are now carports. Southeast of the stables is a long corrugated metal barn, beyond which is extensive gardens to the rear of the house. Another wrought-iron gate accesses the lane from the front garden.

Roofing: Natural slate
Walling: Ruled-and-lined render
Windows: Timber sliding sash
RWG: Cast-iron

Historical information

The current dwelling occupies the footprint of a pre-1834 structure on the site, which appears to have been remodelled c1920.

Buildings are shown beside a small plantation or orchard on the first edition OS map of 1834, and it is possible that one of these has been retained as part of the current dwelling. The house is listed in the Townland Valuation as the residence of William McGowan with buildings valued at £3.9s. A single-storey thatched house classified as ‘slightly decayed’ is listed together with two single-storey outbuildings on thatched one slated.

In Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64) we learn that William McGowan leases the farm of over 21 acres from the Marquess of Downshire for £17 a year. The buildings are now valued at £2.10s. On the second edition OS map (1858) a third structure has been added to the farmyard and by the third edition (1901-2) buildings surround the farmyard on all four sides. William McGowan, farmer, lived at the house with his wife and two step-daughters, Sarah Spence and Anne Gelston. McGowan leased a further farm of land of around 23 acres in Lisnabreeny townland. On his death, he was anxious to provide for his wife, Grace, and bequeathed to her ‘the use of the Parlour and bedroom at my present residence at Crossnacreevy for her own use and benefit during her life’. He also left cash legacies to his step-daughters ‘to include and cover compensation for their services in assisting me in the working of my farms’. (Will of William McGowan)

By 1900 the farm had been taken over by James Gelston, the son-in-law of William and he became the owner in fee in 1913. The census of 1901 records only three people present at the house, William McGowan’s widow, Grace, his step-daughter Sarah Spence and his granddaughter Georgina Gelston who is 4 years old. In 1911, James Gelston, farmer, is present with his sister-in-law Sarah Spence and a farm servant of 46 years. At this time the farmhouse had only four windows to the front façade and 4-6 rooms inside. (1901, 1911 census)

By the fourth edition a further outbuilding has been added to the plot and this addition appears to co-incide with a change of ownership, the farm becoming the residence of Robert Gillis by 1924. A large rise in valuation to £15 is noted the same year, indicating substantial additions and/or improvements, possibly due to the raising and remodelling of the farmhouse. Robert Gillis appears to have lived at the farm until his death in 1942.

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/3/9/1 First Edition OS Map 1834
2. PRONI OS/6/3/9/2 Second Edition OS map 1858
3. PRONI OS/6/3/9/3 Third Edition OS Map 1901-2
4. PRONI OS/6/3/9/4 Fourth Edition OS Map 1920-21
5. PRONI OS/6/3/9/5 Fifth Edition OS Map 1920-31
6. PRONI OS/6/3/9/7 Seventh Edition OS Map 1938
7. PRONI VAL/1/B/325 Townland Valuation (1828-40)
8. PRONI VAL/2/B/3/16B Griffiths Valuation (1861)
9. PRONI VAL/12/B/23/20A-E Annual Revisions (1864-1929)
10. PRONI VAL/12/F/4/9/3 – Annual Revisions (1930-35)
11. 1901 census online
12. 1911 census online
13. PRONI Will of William McGowan, died 6th February 1898
14. PRONI Will of Robert Gillis, died 20th August 1942

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
R. Age
S. Authenticity

Evaluation

A two-storey five-bay farm house with portions pre-dating 1830, converted outbuildings to the rear arranged around a central courtyard.
Despite some alterations and remodelling throughout the 19th and 20th century, the building shows a degree of historic development. In the late 20th century, the rear elevation of the property was sypathetically altered to provide a new entrance to the farm house via an additon of a single storey porch. The two storey five bay return that was formerly a single store outbuilding was renovated and raised to match the existing ridge line of the original house, similar detailing ensures the historic character of the farm house is maintained. Internally the house retains features of interest including an original staircase, timber ceilings with moulded cornices. The building is of local interest, has a good setting and is a good example of a farm house in this rural area.