Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB23/01/001 A

Address :
Glenganagh 39 Bangor Road Groomsport Co Down BT19 6JF

Townland:
Ballymacormick

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Survey 2:
B+

Date of Listing:
06/01/1975 00:00:00

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
House

Former Use
House

Conservation Area:
No

Industrial Archaeology:
No

Vernacular:
No

Thatched:
No

Monument:
No

Derelict:
No

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OS Map No:
116-9

IG Ref:
J5275 8285

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Owner Category

Private

Exterior Description And Setting

A two-storey two-bay early-nineteenth century house with substantial returns, located in extensive grounds on the shores of Ballyholme, to the west side of Bangor Road. The house is U-shaped on plan, comprising an L-shaped main block with principal front aligned N-S; extended original return and later nineteenth century extension (now forming the entrance front) are both aligned W-E. There is a single storey kitchen extension to north; twin cast-iron conservatories and veranda to south. Pitched and hipped natural slate roofs with blue/black angled clay ridge tiles. Roughcast chimneystacks have clustered lozenge flues grouped in twos, threes and fours, all with terracotta pots. Rainwater goods are ogee cast-iron on drive-in brackets, and there are simple profiled bargeboards to gables (finial to south gable only). Walling is roughcast rendered with smooth render platband to first floor cill level at main original block. Windows are of two main types: the L-shaped block has a variety of timber sliding sashes, tripartite 6/6 and 6/3 to beach-facing elevation. Later nineteenth century windows are double-hung four-centred-arched casements in square-headed timber frames with cast-cement surrounds and label moulds. All have projecting masonry cills. The principal (beach-facing) elevation faces west and is three windows wide to each floor. The north (kitchen garden) elevation is variously abutted: to right end is a single-storey canted ashlar sandstone transom-and-mullion bay window; a single storey kitchen extension to right of centre and the full height projecting bay to extreme left end are linked by a single-storey lean-to addition. The elevation is further extended by a two-storey outbuilding (described with rear elevation, below). Fenestration varies. The extension has a hipped roof and is lit by an enlarged plate glass window to north; it is accessed at west by a Gothic-panelled timber door having an adjoining plain glazed window to immediate left, all surmounted by a multi-pane metal transom and timber canopy. The rear elevation is complex and comprises a series of late-nineteenth and early twentieth-century extensions, each abutted by outbuildings which enclose a rear courtyard, accessed from the house by a six-panelled timber door which opens onto the passage formed by the inner cheeks of each return. The passage walling is smooth rendered and there are a variety of timber casement and sash windows throughout. The yard is accessed at east by a pair of wrought-iron gates and comprises single and two-storey outbuildings with pitched slate roofs, roughcast walling, timber sash fenestration and timber sheeted doors. The south (entrance) elevation comprises the south gable of original block at left and the south elevation of the late twentieth-century return. The gable has a window at first floor and, at ground floor, French doors and an elliptical-arched three-light casement, each enclosed by an ornate cast-iron conservatory with raised central lantern. The remainder is three openings wide at each floor, arranged about the four-centred-arched timber sheeted entrance door, which is offset to left of centre and is set within a Roman cement Gothic door case with sidelights. The conservatory is matched by a slightly larger counterpart at right (abutting the rear of an outbuilding), and they are connected by an ornate cast-iron canopy supported on cast-iron columns, which spans the entire ground floor. Out-building complex to east of main dwelling consists of a variety of single and two storey buildings. Single-storey double height early garage with hipped slate roof, ogee cast iron rainwater goods, roughcast walling and timber multi-pane window. Original timber sheeted and glazed garage doors to entrance gable; north elevation has a single window; south and east elevations are blank. Single-storey outbuilding to north of garage has hipped slate roof, half round cast iron rainwater goods and roughcast walling. Two timber sheeted doors positioned symmetrically on west elevation; remaining elevations blank. Two-storey outbuilding to north with half- hipped slate roof, cast iron rainwater goods, smooth rendered walling with smooth rendered plinth, 3/6 timber sliding sash windows and timber sheeted doors. West elevation has a single central timber sheeted door at first floor over two rectangular ventilation openings; north and south elevations have paired window openings at ground floor level; east elevation is abutted to right by single storey return, remainder has a single door opening at ground floor level with two rectangular ventilation openings above surmounted by two glazed and louvered openings. Attached two bay single storey rear return with two timber sheeted doors to south elevation; east elevation abuts estate wall; west elevation abuts two storey building; north elevation abuts single storey timber store. Timber store is a long single storey multi-bay mono-pitched structure with corrugated iron roof. West elevation is an open sided timber post and lintel construction; east elevation abuts estate wall; south elevation abuts single storey outbuilding. Large walled garden to rear of dwelling consists of a tall stone wall to north, east and west sides; south side is enclosed by the dwelling and outbuildings. To the north of the walled garden is a further enclosed garden. South, east and west sides are bounded by a tall stone wall; north side is enclosed by a tall hedge. To the north of the enclosed garden is a small rustic octagonal timber structure with timber shingle roof and random log walling. Entrance elevation has a single glazed and timber sheeted door with triangular stained glass overlight within a timber pediment. To the east of the walled garden is a fine late-nineteenth century fourteen bay pitched timber framed and iron braced glasshouse with full length ventilation lantern. Glasshouse is constructed from panes of glass with curved leading edges in a timber frame on a waist height rendered plinth wall to south, east and west elevations; north elevation has a three-quarter height rendered wall. South elevation has an off centred pitched entrance bay with a half glazed timber panelled door. Internally the glasshouse is divided in two by a glazed and timber screen incorporating a half glazed timber panelled door. A central aisle runs the entire length of the building with a raised bed along the south and raised benching along the north. A sunken pit opposite the entrance door is filled with water and the original mechanism for opening the high level windows is intact. Setting The house is set within extensive mature grounds, accessed via a winding gravel lane from south-east. The formal lawn to west is open to Ballyholme beach. The grounds are generally planted with native woodland species and wild flowers, and include two walled kitchen gardens (one active, one given over to lawn) to north, each enclosed by a rubble stone boundary wall. There is a small group of twentieth-century outbuildings to east, with half-hipped slate roofs, smooth rendered walling and timber sheeted openings. Roof: Natural slate Walling: Roughcast Windows: Timber RWG: Cast iron

Architects

Hanna, James A

Historical Information

‘Glenganagh’ appears, captioned, on the first edition Ordnance Survey map of 1834 but Brett feels that the house is ‘probably at least fifteen years earlier, perhaps more’. (p.103) The house is listed in the Townland Valuation (1828-40) as the residence of Lady Dufferin, a house and offices valued at £25.6s. Dimensions are given for a house, porch, three returns, two passages, three outbuildings and a porter’s lodge. Lady Dufferin was Anna Dorothea, Daughter of John Foster, Lord Oriel and the widow of Sir James Blackwood, who inherited the estates of Dufferin and Clandeboye in 1808. She is thought to have moved into Glenganagh shortly after his death in 1836 and lived there until her death in 1865 at the age of 93. She was a noted gardener and Lord Dufferin’s rent books shows an expense of £31.7s.9d on her garden in 1865-6. (Brett, p.103) Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64) sees the house rise in value to £38 indicating that improvements have taken place, although no dimensions are given. The second edition of 1858 shows the house considerably extended so that a courtyard has been formed to the rear of the house. In 1871 the house becomes the property of Andrew Cowan who was a J.P. and barrister and a Director of the Belfast Royal Botanic and Horticultural Company. He had previously lived at Ballylintogh House, near Hillsborough. (Joint Stock Companies Directory, p.698; Paul, p.48; Knox, p.545) In 1880 the house passed to Samuel Kingan and in 1882 the valuation is increased to £60.5s. and in 1883 to £65.5s. A gate lodge, by James Hanna, was added in 1882. Lyttle comments that Kingan, “has expended vast sums in ornamenting and beautifying the place, since he became the proprietor of the townlands of Ballyholme and Ballycormick. The vineries, fernery & c are constructed and heated on the most improved principles”. The OS map of 1900-02 shows considerable expansion in the outbuildings to the rear of the property. (Brett, p.102; Lyttle, p.89) Samuel Kingan was a successful businessman who, along with his brothers Thomas and John, had opened a meat-packing plant in Belfast in 1845. The firm prospered selling pork products to the British Navy and in 1851 and 1853 they opened plants in Brooklyn, New York and Cincinnati, Ohio respectively. After both plants burned down, they opened a third in Indianapolis in 1862. In 1875 the firm merged with another Belfast firm, J & T Sinclair. Many of their workers were Irish and some were recruited in Ireland. The ‘Encyclopedia of Indianapolis’ carries an 1893 advertisement for ‘Kingan & Co, Pork Packers’ showing their factory in that town. (Tenuth, p.58; Bodenhamer and Barrows, p.870) On his death in 1911 the house passed to his sons William and Thomas. Annual Revisions record a large rise in the valuation following this in 1916 to £110. Brett (a relative of the Kingan family) comments that, “family history relates that the major alterations carried out at this time were instigated by their energetic sister Elsie...” “...the inner and outer hall and dining-room were panelled in the Edwardian manner, a canted stone bay window in Jacobean style was added to the dining-room, and a large new panelled and top-lit square stairwell and staircase inserted at the centre of the house, with a gallery round the upper level serving the bedrooms. These alterations were carried out under the supervision of James Hanna, architect, who had put up the gate lodge a few years before. It is unclear whether the massive cut-stone archway dividing the inner from the outer hall was also his work, or earlier. He seems to have made no material changes to the exterior.” (Brett, p.103, 102) The house is still being used as a private residence. References: Primary Sources 1. PRONI OS/6/3/1/1 – First Edition OS Map 1834 2. PRONI OS/6/3/1/2 – Second Edition OS map 1858 3. PRONI OS/6/3/1/3 – Third Edition OS Map 1900-02 4. PRONI OS/6/3/1/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map 1919-31 5. PRONI OS/6/3/1/5 – Fifth Edition OS Map 1938-41 6. PRONI VAL/1/A/3/1 – Townland Valuation Map (1828-40) 7. PRONI VAL/1/B/31 – Townland Valuation (1828-40) 8. PRONI VAL/2/B/3/1 – Griffith’s Valuation Map (1856-64) 9. PRONI VAL/2/B/3/1C – Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64) 10. PRONI VAL/12/B/23/7A-K – Annual Revisions (1866-99) 11. PRONI VAL/12/B/23/8A-C – Annual Revisions (1894-1923) 12. PRONI VAL/12/D/3/1 – Annual Revisions Maps (1866–1923) Secondary Sources 1.Barrows, R.G. and Bodenhamer, D.J. “Encyclopedia of Indianapolis” Indiana University Press, 1994 2.Brett, C.E.B. “Buildings of North County Down” Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 2002 3.“Joint Stock Companies Directory” London: Charles Barker & Sons, 1867 4.Knox, Alexander, M.D. “A History of the County of Down” Dublin: Hodges, Foster & Co, 1875 5.Paul, W.J. “Modern Irish Poets”, 2008 6.Lyttle, W.G. “The Bangor Season, What’s to be Seen and How to See It” Belfast: Appletree Press, Facsimile edition of original published in 1885 7.Tenuth, J “Indianapolis: a Circle City History” Charleston, Chicago, Portsmouth, San Francisco: Arcadia, 2004

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

A. Style B. Proportion C. Ornamentation D. Plan Form I. Quality and survival of Interior J. Setting K. Group value

Historic Interest

V. Authorship W. Northern Ireland/International Interest

Evaluation

An evolved two-storey two-bay early-nineteenth century former dower house with substantial returns built for the Dufferin family of Clandeboye, and later extended in a distinctive Gothic-revival style to form a modest country house enhanced by ornate Victorian cast-iron conservatories. The house displays high levels of craftsmanship and high-quality detailing throughout. The mature woodland and beach-front setting along with kitchen gardens, garden structures, outbuildings and the fine late-nineteenth century glasshouse add to its interest. Glenganagh has group value with its gate lodge and gatescreen (HB23/01/001B), as well as Glen Cottage (HB23/03/008), and retains connections with nearby Islet Hill farm (HB23/01/007).

General Comments

Please note this record has been renumbered from HB23/01/001

Date of Survey

21 April 2010