Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB19/06/031

Address :
150 Comber Road Hillsborough County Down BT26 6NA

Townland:
Cabragh

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Survey 2:
Record Only

Date of Listing:

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:
184/03

IG Ref:
J2887 6025

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Owner Category

Church - Presbyterian

Exterior Description And Setting

Detached symmetrical three-bay one and a half-storey rendered former school-master's house, built c.1890. Rectangular on plan facing north on an elevated site to the south of Comber Road accessed off Cabra Road to the south of Legacurry. Pitched natural slate roof with roll-moulded black clay ridge tiles and pair of rendered chimneystacks with terracotta pots, re-roofed c.2003. Replacement plastic rainwater goods to plastic box fascia. Ruled and lined render walling with rusticated render quoins and projecting render plinth course. Square-headed window openings with painted masonry sills and timber sash windows, unless otherwise stated. Symmetrical three-bay single-storey front elevation with paired window openings having stop-chamfered surrounds, hood mouldings and horizontally-glazed 2/2 timber sash windows with cylinder glass. Central square-headed door opening, detailed as per windows with replacement hardwood panelled door having Art Nouveau brass door furniture and rectangular overlight, opening onto concrete step with iron bootscraper embedded into plinth course. East gable has a pair of round-headed window openings to the upper level with replacement timber casement windows. Rear elevation has simple square-headed window openings with replacement timber casement windows and a central square-headed door opening with replacement hardwood sheeted door opening into small rear yard. West gable as per east. Setting: Set on an elevated site to the south of Comber Road with a sloping front lawn opening onto the road via wrought-iron pedestrian gate on pair of rock-faced concrete piers. House also accessed off Cabra Road with small gravel parking area and small rear yard enclosed by concrete walls. Roof Natural slate RWG Plastic Walling Ruled and lined cement render Windows Original timber sash / replacement timber casement

Architects

Hunter, (forename unknown)

Historical Information

Cabragh cottage was constructed c. 1890 by the Trustees of Legacurry Presbyterian Church as a residence for the teacher of the local National School (which was situated at the rear of the Church at the centre of the village). This cottage replaced the site of an earlier building and small quarry which can first be seen on the first and second editions of the Ordnance Survey map for Legacurry (1833-58). Griffith’s Valuation (1861) tells us that this was the dwelling of a Mr. John Moore, a farmhouse valued at £1 5s. By 1868 the house had passed to a Mr. John Gibson who added a number of new offices to the site in 1879 raising its value to £1 15s. From 1879 the site was recorded in the possession of a Mr. John Ball; it was during Ball’s occupation that the former dwelling was taken down and a new valuation record made for a ‘Teacher’s Residence,’ let by the Trustees of Legacurry Presbyterian Church and valued at £6. The third and fourth editions of the Ordnance Survey maps (1902 – 03; 1919-20) depict ‘Cabragh Cottage’ (as it was first recorded in the third edition) as a square building occupying the site of the previous dwelling. The first occupant of the cottage was James McCloy, the local National School Teacher, who resided there until 1905 when the Annual Revisions record that a Mr. Robert Boyd took over possession of the property residing there until the end of the revisions in 1929. However, the 1911 Census for Legacurry does not record a Mr. Robert Boyd at that time but rather continues to list James McCloy as the sole school teacher for the area. The census tells us that James McCloy (52) resided in Legacurry with his wife Elizabeth (55) and two of their children. The Census Building return describes his property as a 2nd class dwelling which possessed six rooms and a stable and cow house amongst its out offices, assuming that McCloy’s census record is Cabragh Cottage (which is uncertain although no other teachers are recorded in the area). John McGowan tells us that the construction of a residence for the local National School was planned by the Trustees of Legacurry Presbyterian Church in the late-19th century; however, the church suffered financial difficulties during the depression of this period and it was not until 1890 that suitable funds were available for the construction of the building. In that year the Committee and congregation of Legacurry purchased the 1 acre lease of land from John Ball at £50. Cabragh Cottage was constructed 1894-95 at a cost of £245; this sum was borrowed from committee members and an application for a loan under the New Glebe Loan Act of 1880 (Magowan). The builder employed to construct the house was a Mr. McVernon whilst the architect that obtained the tender was a Mr. Hunter (both forenames are unknown). Cabragh Cottage continues to be owned by Legacurry Church; the current tenant has resided at the address since 1943. In 1982 the additional land surrounding the cottage was sold by the church to raise funds for the construction of a new Church Hall. The most recent change to the cottage was executed in 2003 when the building was reroofed. References Primary Sources 1. PRONI OS/6/3/14/1 – First Edition Ordnance Survey Map 1833 2. PRONI OS/6/3/14/2 – Second Edition Ordnance Survey Map 1858 3. PRONI OS/6/3/14/3 – Third Edition Ordnance Survey Map 1902-1903 4. PRONI OS/6/3/14/4 – Fourth Edition Ordnance Survey Map 1919-1920 5. PRONI VAL/2/B/3/25C – Griffiths Valuation 1861 6. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/3A – Annual Revisions 1868-1876 7. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/3B – Annual Revisions 1877-1885 8. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/3C – Annual Revisions 1886-1896 9. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/3D – Annual Revisions 1897-1914 10. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/3E – Annual Revisions 1915-1929 Secondary Sources 1. Magowan, J. M., ‘Legacurry Presbyterian Church: Our Story’ (Pamphlet, 1993).

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

Not listed

Historic Interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Detached symmetrical three-bay one and a half-storey rendered former school-master's house, built c.1890. Occupying an elevated site, this former school-master's house retains much of its original character both internally and externally and makes a positive contribution to the character of Legacurry and the surrounding area. Despite its interest, the house has been re-roofed and windows have been replaced, detracting from its style and proportions and it is not considered suitable for listing.

General Comments

Date of Survey

01 February 2011