Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB17/03/039 A

Address :
Scarvagh House 31 Old Mill Road Scarva CRAIGAVON Co. Down BT63 6NL

Townland:
Scarva

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Survey 2:
B+

Date of Listing:
25/10/1977 00:00:00

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
House

Former Use
House

Conservation Area:
No

Industrial Archaeology:
No

Vernacular:
No

Thatched:
No

Monument:
Yes

Derelict:
No

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OS Map No:
220/14

IG Ref:
J0695 4284

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Owner Category

Private

Exterior Description And Setting

An asymmetrical two-storey multi-bay early-eighteenth century country house, located in an extensive private demesne to the south of Scarva village. The house is U-shaped on plan with two-storey projecting porch; the central three-bay block is double pile, flanked by perpendicular east and west wings; there is a two storey extension to rear west. Roof is hipped and pitched natural slate with leaded hips and ridges to central block, and ridge tiles to wings. Replacement red brick chimneystacks with decorative brick detailing. Profiled cast iron gutters on a fascia (over exposed rafter tails to wings only). Walling is cement rendered throughout (except where stated otherwise), with moulded string course between floors to principal elevations. Windows are generally timber sliding sash, with timber casement replacements to east wing principal elevation (configuration is described with elevations). Those to central block have label mouldings, otherwise reveals are plain. All cills are granite; those to principal façade are original; most to rear are replacement. The principal elevation faces S and is nine openings wide, abutted at centre by a full-height porch. The porch is ornamented by a slender profiled Dutch gable topped by a ball finial; corners are articulated by columns with heavy entasis set on pedestals to ground floor, and by scrolled diagonal buttresses to first floor; there are string courses between floors and at eaves level. Entrance comprises a four-centred arched timber door with cusped panelling, set in a chamfered reveal; cheeks are lit by diminutive segmental-arched latticed stained and painted glass windows. The porch is flanked to either side by full-height breakfront bays, also with profiled gables, lit by tall tripartite windows to ground floor surmounted by open scrolled pediments. To left and right are three windows to each floor; those to right include a projecting box bay with quinquepartite window, and, to far right, a painted glass Gothic arched window set in square frame. Courtyard facing elevations of the east and west wings are similar, but not identical; west wing is eight windows wide (aligned but unevenly spaced) with off centre to left replacement timber door with square-headed overlight; gothic arched plate glass window insertion to left end at ground floor. East wing is set at a higher level and is six casement windows wide with central entrance as before, but set in brick surround and accessed by granite steps with carved stone urns flanking top step. To extreme right end at ground floor is an infilled Gothic arched doorway, also accessed by steps. Each wing is terminated at south end by a crow-stepped parapet, that to west lit by a tripartite window to each floor, flanked by sidelights. End of west wing is pierced with a bellcote and lit at first floor only by a replacement margin-paned round-arched window. West elevation is abutted by a full-height extension at right (flush with gable of east wing). Variety of windows to each floor, including several replacements and a fully glazed canted bay insertion with French doors. The extension also has a modern entrance door at north and a pointed arched window insertion to west. The rear elevation is abutted at right by a two storey extension, sympathetic to the house but of no interest. To its left are three closely spaced openings to each floor, including a modern timber door with Gothic panelling, square-headed overlight and sidelights. To left of centre is a tripartite stained lattice window, lighting stairwell; smaller but similarly detailed window to ground floor at left. Left side has a timber sheeted loading door in segmental-arched opening, and windows to first floor. The east elevation comprises the exposed gable of the rear pile to main block; the front pile is abutted by a lean-to outbuilding with chamfered corner, and at left side by the east elevation of the east wing. The rear gable is of exposed coursed rubble stone with some snecking, red brick quoins, apex and dressings to openings. There are two windows (slightly staggered) to first floor, that to left with decorative glazing, and a single window to ground floor with reveal rebuilt in concrete block. The outbuilding is plainly detailed. The east elevation of the east wing is dominated by two large square-headed coach-openings with decorative segmental-arched detailing to heads, infilled with modern timber and glass screen doors; these are each flanked to right by a timber entrance door with decorative triangular pediment over. There is a small canted bay window to left, and an additional entrance bay set in a lean-to porch. Otherwise lit by small plain casements. Setting The house is set in extensive grounds overlooking an expanse of farmland to south and east with woodland to west. The house opens onto the courtyard at south, which is finished with tarmac and a shrub perimeter. The ‘Dane’s Cast’ ancient earthwork is situated to the north of the house on a north-east/south-west axis. The house is accessed via a tarmac drive at north through the listed gatescreen (HB17/03/039B), and the historic main entrance is reached via a tree-lined avenue to west. The north entrance leads to an extensive stud farm, which is located immediately to north-east, and comprises stables and modern buildings ranging in date from the early twentieth century to present. Atlernative access to Eastern of boundary of site with concrete Pillbox adjacent (outside boundary). The only outbuilding of interest is a red brick multi-bay storey and a half stable block, built early to mid twentieth century, to the east of the house. The stables have a natural slate roof with corbelled verge and eaves with exposed rafter feet and chamfered brick string course at first floor level (front and side elevations only). Front elevation faces south-west and comprises six square-headed timber sheeted half doors surmounted by natural slate roofed lean-to canopies supported on cast iron brackets and flanked by segmental arched fixed paned timber windows (that to far right flanked to left only and far left opening is louvered). Gabled end bays encompass single 4/2 timber casement windows at first floor. South-east elevation blank. North-west is abutted by steps rising to rear with half landing; exposed section blank. North-east (rear) elevation has six diminutive square-headed timber sheeted doors to ground floor and a square-headed timber sheeted door within a pitch roofed wall headed dormer to first floor right accessed by a modern cantilevered steel walkway to right. Internally the stable block is divided into stalls by masonry walls; loft not viewed. Roof: Natural slate Walling: Cement render Windows: Timber RWG: Cast iron

Architects

Not Known

Historical Information

The house was built in the early to mid eighteenth century and has undergone several phases of addition and renovation since that time. Scarvagh House is associated with the Reilly family, founders of Scarva village and original hosts of the annual Scarva ‘sham fight’ commemorating the Battle of the Boyne. The house is shown on the first edition OS map of 1834, captioned ‘Scarva House’ and occupying much the same plan form as today. An orchard and formal garden are shown to the rear of the property and the ‘Dane’s Cast’ ancient earthwork is also captioned. The Dane’s Cast has yielded numerous archaeological finds over the years, some of which, such as ‘the head and horns of an enormous elk ... a gold tiara, brazen swords, spear heads’ were preserved at Scarvagh House during the nineteenth century, a period when private collections of curiosities and artefacts were common. (Knox) The entrance gates and gate lodge at the Scarva end of the property were added between 1834 and 1860, together with a long entrance driveway leading to the house. The second edition OS Map of 1860 shows that a porch has been added to the front facade and the two flanking windows are thought to also be additions from this period (Archaeological Survey of County Down). Burke, writing in 1855, suggests that the building was originally stables and offices put to residential use when plans for an associated mansion were abandoned. (quoted in Dean) The present house is thought to have been built c.1717 by Myles Reilly (Bence-Jones) (Camblin suggests c.1740 by Myles’ son John Reilly). Local tradition has it that, in recognition of his services to the Williamite army in the 1690s, Reilly was given as much land as he could walk and plant with acorns in a day. (Young and Quail) The Reillys are a branch of the ancient House of O’Reilly, Prince of Breffni, but had dropped the prefix O by the mid-eighteenth century. (Knox) Harris, writing in 1744 says, ‘North-west of Loughbrickland about two miles is a house and good improvements of Mr John Reilly, standing pleasantly on a rising ground near the new canal and Scarvagh Bridge...Mr Reilly has a view of forming a village near this bridge where coal-yards and store houses are preparing and for this end has obtained a patent for fairs and markets. There is a salt-works carried on in partnership between Mr Reilly, Mr Cherry and Mr Steers of Liverpool, the latter of whom has the salt rock on his own land and sends the same by water carriage to Scarvagh.” (Harris) Scarva village had been established by the Reillys by 1746. (History of Congregations) John Reilly’s son, also John Reilly (1745-1804) became Chief Commissioner of Public Accounts, MP for Blessington, High Sherriff of County Down in 1776 and High Sherriff of County Armagh in 1783. (O’Hart; Duffy’s Hibernia Magazine). He married a Miss Lushington in 1773 and Scarva was eventually taken over by his son John Lushington Reilly. Lushington Reilly (d.1842) became High Sherriff of County Down in 1810, having married Louisa Temple in 1807. It is thought to be John Lushington Reilly who is responsible for much of the present day appearance of Scarva House. The Archaeological Survey of County Down, which carries a plan of additions and alterations to Scarva House, suggests that Lushington Reilly built two double-height wings onto the original main block in the early nineteenth century forming a forecourt to the original house. Interior alterations in a gothic revival style were carried out within the main block and an extension was added to the north west. Between 1834 and 1860 the south facade of the main block was remodelled in a Jacobean style and internal decoration in contemporary style took place. (Archaeological Survey of County Down) The Townland Valuation of 1828-40 lists the house as the residence of John Lushington Reilly Esq, a house and offices valued at £28.11s for which dimensions are given. Two gate houses are noted, suggesting that the gatescreen was added shortly after the drawing up of the 1834 ordnance survey. Lushington Reilly’s heir was John Temple Reilly and Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64) lists Scarva House as the home of John T Reilly in fee. It is a house, offices, gate lodge and land valued at £30 and later raised to £48 indicating that some improvements were made at about this time. Dimensions are given for the house, including the new porch, four 2-storey outbuildings, one single-storey outbuilding and gate houses. The 1901 census lists the occupant as John Temple Reilly DL, JP who lives with his Galway wife, his daughter, sister, niece and three servants, a cook, a housemaid and a kitchen maid. The house has sixteen rooms, twenty outbuildings and is of the first class. Subsequent occupiers were Sir John Tuthing (spelling unclear) (1905) and Henry Thomson (1906) of Henry Thomson & Co wholesale wine and spirit merchants, MP for Newry from 1880 to 1885 (Young and Quail). In 1907 the valuation was raised to £60, indicating improvements/additions at this time and in 1910 a new drainage system was installed to designs by architect and engineer William Samuel Barber (www.dia.ie). At the time of the 1911 census Henry Thomson, JP DL, retired merchant, was living at the house with his wife, a nurse and three servants. Henry Thomson died on 30th December 1916 while still resident at Scarvagh House (Will of Henry Thomson) and the house was taken over by a relative, possibly a son, Henry B Thomson in 1926. Scarva House passed into the hands of Alfred Buller before the Second World War, and Buller was happy to continue opening the grounds each year for the Scarva ‘sham fight’. (Belfast Newsletter) The most recent historic map dating from 1960s/70s shows that numerous outbuildings have been added to the site in the vicinity of the main house. Other recent work has included the refurbishment of east and west wings for rental purposes. A strong tradition exists that King William III camped under a tree that later became enclosed by Scarva demesne, on his way to the Boyne in 1659, and due in part to this association, Scarva demesne has become the scene of the annual ‘Sham Fight’, a mock reconstruction of the Battle of the Boyne that takes place on the 13th July every year. The fight forms the centrepiece of a Royal Black Preceptory parade when the 300 residents of Scarva are joined by tens of thousands of visitors from the north of Ireland and elsewhere. The mock battle played out over 30 minutes, ends when the green standard of King James is cornered and lowered by the red-shirted Williamite ‘soldiers’. (Belfast Newsletter) The earliest reference to a Sham Fight at Scarva dates from 1835 when evidence was given to a House of Commons enquiry into Orangeism. Mr P McConnell of Tandragee states that by 1835 the fight at Scarva had taken place ‘for several years’. “There was a vast assemblage on this occasion. The publicans took out tents and sold whiskey and the party was very numerous” (Paterson). A full description of the sham fight is given in the OS Memoirs of 1838. “No peculiar amusements can be described as belonging to the inhabitants of the parish [Ballymore, County Armagh] except one to which they resort in great numbers on 13th July each year. It is called the Sham Fight of Scarva, from its taking place near that town. The battle, fought in imitation of the battle of the Boyne, is commenced at the eastern boundary of this parish on the western bank of the Newry Canal, which in the course of the battle is crossed in imitation of the crossing of the Boyne, and it continues on the eastern bank of the canal in the county of Down. The combatants being all Protestant divide themselves into opposite parties, and from there being no real opponents no accidents take place. In 1836 more than 5,000 persons assembled and were dispersed by the military collected there in great force with 6 pieces of artillery. In 1837 they met at 2 o’clock in the morning and the day passed very quietly.” (OS Memoirs) Sham fights to commemorate the battle of the Boyne were, at one time, held in various towns across Armagh and Down and beyond. The Newry Telegraph of 28th July 1825 reports that the battle was fought that year in the Altnaveagh Hills near Newry and at Portadown, Markethill, Tandragee, Newtownhamilton and Poyntzpass. However, the origins of the fight remain uncertain and it may be that the custom pre-dates the foundation of Orangeism. (Paterson) The original undisciplined nature of the battle has changed over the years and the sham fight is now a more symbolic and dignified representation of the original battle. (Belfast Newsletter) It is not clear when the sham fight first began to take place within the demesne itself but certainly this tradition was well established by 1886, and Scarva demesne has therefore hosted the sham fight, almost continuously, for at least 125 years. (Bassett’s Directory) References: Primary Sources 1. PRONI OS/6/3/33/1 First Edition OS Map 1834 2. PRONI OS/6/3/33/2 Second Edition OS map 1860 3. PRONI OS/6/3/33/3 Third Edition OS Map 1903 4. PRONI OS/6/3/33/4 Fourth Edition OS Map 1903-18 5. PRONI VAL/1/B/351 Townland Valuation (1828-40) 6. PRONI VAL/2/B/3/55D Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64) 7. PRONI VAL/12/B/16/22A-D Annual Revisions (1864-1929) 8. PRONI Will of Henry Thomson, died 30th December 1916 9. O’Hart, J “Irish Pedigrees: Origin and Stem of the Irish Nation” Dublin, 1892 10. Duffy’s Hibernia Magazine. 11. Belfast Newsletter 13th July 1976 12. Bassett’s Directory, 1886 13. Newry Telegraph 28th July 1825 Secondary Sources 1. “A History of Congregations in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland 1610-1982” authorised by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Belfast: Presbyterian Historical Society of Ireland, 1982 (available at www.presbyterianhistoryireland.com) 2. Bence-Jones, M “Burke’s guide to County Houses, Vol 1, Ireland” 1978 3. Camblin, G “The Town in Ulster” Belfast: William Mullan & Son, 1951 4. Day, A. and P. McWilliams, eds. “OS Memoirs of Ireland, Parishes of County Armagh” Belfast: Institute of Irish Studies, 1992. 5. Dean, J. A. K. “The Gate Lodges of Ulster: A Gazetteer.” Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1994. 6. Harris, W. and Smith, C. “The Antient and Present State of the County of Down” Dublin: A. Reilly, 1744 (Reprinted Ballynahinch: Davidson, 1977) 7. Knox, Alexander, M.D. “A History of the County of Down” Dublin: Hodges, Foster & Co, 1875 8. Ministry of Finance, Government of Northern Ireland “An Archaeological Survey of County Down” Belfast: Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1966 9. Paterson, T G F “Harvest Home” Armagh County Museum, 1975 10. Young, A F and Quail, D “Old Gilford, Scarva, Loughbrickland and Lawrencetown” Stenlake Publishing, 2002 11. www.dia.ie

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

A. Style B. Proportion C. Ornamentation D. Plan Form H-. Alterations detracting from building I. Quality and survival of Interior J. Setting K. Group value

Historic Interest

V. Authorship X. Local Interest Z. Rarity

Evaluation

Scarvagh House is a fine early Eighteenth century house, located in extensive grounds to the south of Scarva village. The house is arranged around a large forecourt and enlivened by late Baroque elements such as Dutch gables and open scroll pediments, flanked by plainer east and west wings to either side. The main elements of historic fabric remain intact, and early nineteenth century romantic Gothic Revival details with medieval revival elements are of note, being unusual in the context of Northern Ireland. The original setting is of good quality with many features surviving. Scarvagh House has an historic and cultural profile of some significance due to historic links with William III, and is well known as the setting for the ‘sham fight’ between King William and King James, which has been held at the house for over a century.

General Comments

Please note this record has been renumbered it was previously recorded as HB17/03/039

Date of Survey

01 November 2011