Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB18/18/001 B

Address :
Stables at Finnebrogue estate off Finnebrogue Road Finnabrogue Downpatrick Co Down BT30 9AA

Townland:
Finnabrogue

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Survey 2:
B2

Date of Listing:
21/02/2007 00:00:00

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
Stables

Former Use
Stables

Conservation Area:
No

Industrial Archaeology:
No

Vernacular:
No

Thatched:
No

Monument:
No

Derelict:
No

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OS Map No:
224/3

IG Ref:
J4815 4721

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Owner Category

Private

Exterior Description And Setting

Large, mainly two storey, stable yard complex of part pre 1834, part c.1835-38 construction, in stone and render with slated hipped roof. The complex, which is arranged in an irregular quadrangle, served Finnebrogue House and contains a large dwelling (formerly the groom’s house) which was ‘modernised’ in c.1995-6. This stable yard is situated a few metres east of Finnebrogue House itself, roughly 1½ miles north of Downpatrick. As stated above, the complex is laid out in an irregular quadrangle plan, due to the fact that the S half of the long W wing is set on the squint. The W wing and the N wing comprise a single L-shaped block, whilst the S wing a short and long E wing are ‘stand alone’ blocks which are not structurally integrated. The N, W and S wings are all pre 1834, whilst the E wing was added some time between 1834 and 1858. The S wing is two storey, the W wing two storey but with a loft level to the house section to its S end, whilst the N and E wings are two storey but with large basement levels, exposed to the E and N because of the drop in ground level to these sides. The yard itself is now covered by a neat lawn. The complex is entered from the SW corner, where a tall wrought iron gate spans between the gap between the S and W wings. The W wing is the longest of blocks which surround the yard. As stated before, it is not straight, its N end joining to the N wing at a right angle but with its S half set on a westwards squint. To the S end is the dwelling house, much of whose roof level is slightly higher than the rest of the wing. The dwelling house was ‘modernised’ and extended in c.1995-96. To the right side of its E elevation (which faces into the yard) there is a large single storey lean-to porch extension, which is rendered with a slated roof and has a modern window and door arrangement to its E face (partly glazed timber sheeted door and modern timber frames and slate clad aprons to the windows) and modern high-level windows to the N and S faces, which follow the pitch of the roof. To the left of the porch there are two large ground floor windows, much as E face of porch but with smooth cement render surrounds. To the first floor above these are three much smaller unevenly spaced windows with similar frames and surrounds etc., but with slate cladding above rather than as aprons. To the right of these windows (just above the roof of the porch) a small opening (which was probably once a window) is now filled with slate cladding. To the immediate right of the porch (where, incidentally, the roof level is lower) there is a large full height window opening with slate cladding as aprons on both floors. To the right of this there is a small narrow ground floor window, without surround or apron. Outside of the porch (and the window surrounds) this elevation of the house is in random fieldstone rubble. The rear elevation of the dwelling house section is in random rubble also. To the left hand side there is a small window with modern frame and surround as before. To the right of this there is a door as front, with surround as window. To the taller section of the elevation to the right hand side there are two full height window openings, as to right on front, but narrower. To the far right on the first floor there is a window, similar in style to the full height openings. The S gable of the house section is also in rubble and has a single attic level window, much as before but with pointed arch head . The gabled roof of the house section is slated, with Velux windows to front and rear. To the S and centre the roof level is considerably higher, and this higher section of the roof culminates in a small louvered ridge projection. The N half of the W wing is still used as a store. The E elevation of this section is covered in a roughcast render. To the left on the ground floor are three relatively small Georgian-paned sash windows (2/4, 3/3, 2/4). The second of these windows sits within what was originally a doorway, the stone architrave of which is still visible. To right of these windows is a tall doorway with timber sheeted double door, eight-pane fanlight and cream brick dressings. To right of this is a window arrangement as that to left, but without frame to right hand opening (the architrave to this side is visible, as left). To the first floor there are two loft openings, without any doors. Each of these openings is directly in line with the former doorways. The rear (W) elevation of this section is largely obscured by tree growth, but internal observation suggests there are no openings. The gabled roof is covered in what appears to be fibre cement slates. The N wing is much shorter than that to W. The S elevation (which faces into the yard) is finished in roughcast. To the far left is a doorway (without door). Just above this doorway is a loft door-like opening, without door. To the right of the doorway there are two tall window openings, now boarded up. Between these are two smaller openings, one above the other- the lower opening with the remains of a window frame, the upper opening boarded up. To the right of this grouping is another doorway (with timber sheeted door), with another loft-like opening just above (boarded up). To the first floor there three large squarish windows with Tudoresque mullioned and transomed frames with lattice panes to each light. The window to left is only part glazed with the rest of the opening boarded. The short E elevation of the N wing is also finished in roughcast. To the centre of basement level (actually ground level) there is a low doorway with shaped stone architrave (which looks 17th or early 18th century) and timber double doors. To the centre of the second (first) floor level there is a group of three relatively small windows, which share the same cill. Only the right hand window retains the remains of a frame. The proximity of tree growth has obscured the W elevation and the remains of other structures (as well as tree growth) has succeeded in obscuring much of the N elevation. However to the second (first) floor of the N elevation there appear to be three windows as first floor S, whilst covering the ground (basement) and first (ground) floor levels there was once a large lean-to, most of which has now collapsed, exposing unrendered rubble walling to these levels. To the left hand side of the elevation there rises a tall chimneystack, now largely smothered in plant growth. The roof of this wing is hipped and slated. The W (yard facing) elevation of the long E wing is finished in roughcast and has a more regular or planned appearance than any other of the earlier wings. To the ground floor there are eight evenly spaced doorways with timber sheeted doors; a ninth doorway has been turned into a window. Above each doorway (and the window) is a square opening; all these openings are now boarded up. At a loft level above there are four smaller openings, three louvered, one completely open. To this level also there is a centrally located loft door partly set within a small gable. The short N gable of the E wing is also finished in roughcast and has a single small louvered opening to the left of centre at second floor level. The S gable appears to have once have had a large lean-to structure against it for one can see its outline and within this outline the façade is in unrendered rubble. The uppermost level is in roughcast and has a central window opening, without frame. The long E elevation is finished in roughcast. To ground basement level there are a series of doorway and some windows, the former with timber sheeted double doors, the latter boarded up. To the first (ground) floor there is a line of windows with the remains of Georgian-paned sash frames. To far right is a broader window opening with c.1930s steel frame. The gabled roof is slated. The S wing is the smallest of all the wings, but is broader than the rest. Its N (yard facing) elevation is finished in roughcast. To the far right on the ground floor there is a timber sheeted door. To left of these are two narrow high level windows with small lattice panes. These flank a large vehicle doorway with timber sheeted double door. To first floor there is a small window to far left, then a much larger one, then another small window- all with modern frames. To far right is a narrow window, as ground floor. The right hand (W) edge of this elevation is curved. The W gable is finished in roughcast also and has a small window to left on the ground floor. The E gable is largely in random rubble with only the uppermost level of the façade in roughcast (there used to be a lean-to against this gable). The S elevation is largely in roughcast, with only a small portion of the uppermost part of the façade in unrendered rubble. To far left on the ground floor is a window with modern frame. The gabled roof of this wing is slated. The gateway to the SW corner of the complex has two large rounded pillars which are roughcasted with rubble ‘coping’. The tall gates are in wrought iron and have the common vernacular ‘fleur-de-lis’ heads to the railings. The yard itself consists of a neat lawn with gravel edging. Just to the S of the of the S wing there is a boiler house sunken below ground level. It has a small doorway (now without door), approached from a hollow to the E. To the immediate N of the complex there are the badly dilapidated remains of some single storey dairy and bakery buildings, with some former fowl houses to the E. To the N again a long two storey outbuilding has been converted to a dwelling (with various modern windows with smooth cement surrounds, timber sheeted doors, slated gabled roof, Velux windows etc.). To immediate E of this is another two storey outbuilding (which looks disused). There is an open lean-to to the E side of this outbuilding. Some ruined sheds to N of this.

Architects

Not Known

Historical Information

Patrick Savage’s 1772 map of the Finnebrogue estate shows a long building to the immediate east of the house itself, possibly where this stable yard now stands. The north, south and west wings are shown on the OS map of 1834 and recorded in the valuation of 1834, along with several other buildings, one of which was newly built and appears to match the dimensions of the east wing, suggesting it may have been built between c.1835 and 1858 (it is shown on the 1858 OS map). The pre 1834 wings may have been built in the later 1700s, for the valuers grade them ‘B’, implying that they were believed to be over 30 years old at that point. It is possible that at least part of the complex may have been built as part of the major 1790s renovations to Finnebrogue House carried out by Dorothea Waring Maxwell; however a QUB archaeologist has recently stated that the vaulted basement to the north wing bears the hallmarks of 17th century construction. Finnebrogue House itself is believed to be mid to later 17th century. A 1935 plan of the stable yard within the Perceval-Maxwell Papers at PRONI, shows the different uses the buildings had at that date: the groom’s house, garage, stables and wash house to the west wing; laundry, loose boxes, ironing loft and basement stores to the N wing; stores, loose boxes, harness room and lofts to the east wing, with coal stores, stick house, paint shop and ‘smith’s shop’ at basement level, and a garage, bakery and stores to the south wing. In the latter decades of the 20th century the yard was largely unused. In 1995 (along with Finnebrogue House and the other remaining estate buildings), it was sold and the dwelling house section ‘modernised’ shortly afterwards. References- Primary sources 1 PRONI T.1023, D.1556, D.2480, D.3244, D.3817, D.4218 Perceval-Maxwell Papers, 1606-1969 [D.4218, the most recent deposit, has not as yet (October 2001) been catalogued in detail. It includes a tin box full of estate maps among which is a bound volume entitled ‘A mapp book of Finabrogue estate- survey’d anno 1772 for Mrs Ann Maxwell by Patrick Savage’. This survey contains a small crude drawing of the house at that date.] 2 Walter Harris, ‘The ancient and present state of the County of Down’ (Dublin, 1744), p.39 3 ‘Taylor’s and Skinner’s maps of the roads of Ireland’ (Dublin, 1777), map 282 4 PRONI OS/6/3/30/1 6in OS map, Co Down, sh 30, 1834 5 PRONI OS/6/3/31/1 6in OS map, Co Down, sh 31, 1834 6 PRONI VAL.1B/372 First valuation, Inch parish, 1838 7 ‘Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland’ vol.17, ed Angelique Day and Patrick McWilliams (QUB, 1992), pp.74-75 8 PRONI OS/6/3/30/2 6in OS map, Co Down, sh 30, 1858 9 PRONI OS/6/3/31/2 6in OS map, Co Down, sh 31, 1858 10 PRONI VAL.2B/3/74 Second valuation notebook, Inch Parish, 1861 11 PRONI VAL.12B/18/13a-d Annual valuation revision books, 1864-79, 1880-97, 1898-1911, 1912-29 12 PRONI OS/6/3/30/3 6in OS map, Co Down, sh 30, c.1901 13 PRONI OS/6/3/31/3 6in OS map, Co Down, sh 31, c.1901 Secondary sources 1 R.E. Parkinson, ‘City of Downe’ (Belfast, 1927; reprint Bangor, 1977), p.35 2 ‘Archaeological survey of Co. Down (Belfast, HMSO, 1966), pp.362-63 etc. 3 Mark Bence-Jones, ‘(Burke’s) Guide to Irish country houses (updated edition, London, 1988), p.125 4 Anthony M. Wilson, ‘Saint Patrick’s town’ (Belfast, 1995), pp.30, 98, 99, 111, 134, 141, 142, 148, 151, 154, 209 5 Anthony Malcomson, The Perceval-Maxwell Papers- Introduction (1997) [Available at PRONI]

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

A. Style B. Proportion D. Plan Form H-. Alterations detracting from building J. Setting K. Group value

Historic Interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Large, mainly two storey, stable yard complex of part pre 1834, part c.1835-38 construction, in stone and render with (mainly) slated hipped roof. The complex, which is arranged in an irregular quadrangle, served Finnebrogue House and has group value with it and the other listed buildings on the estate.

General Comments

Date of Survey

28 September 2001