Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB15/12/040

Address :
Elm Park House 22 Tonnagh Road Killylea County Armagh BT60 4PZ

Townland:
Mullaghatinny

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Survey 2:
B+

Date of Listing:
20/02/2014 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:
217/7 NE

IG Ref:
H8057 4637

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Owner Category

Private

Exterior Description And Setting

Large, mainly three-storey hipped roof late-Georgian country house of 1803, with a large full-height addtion to the south-west of 1884-86, and a low two-storey return to the north-west which may contain the fabric of an earlier pre-19th century dwelling. A pre-1860 entrance porch and a large elaborate conservatory of the 1880s which was attached to the south, were removed in the mid to later 1900s. Originally the home of the Close and Blacker-Douglas families, the property was converted to a preparatory school in 1921, but since 1954 as served as a farm outbuilding. The main dwelling is composed of a three-storey section, roughly ‘U’-shaped in plan, with the main entrance on the bottom of the ‘U’. It largely dates from 1803, but there is a c.1884-86 two-storey section (containing a grand dining room and what became known as ‘the master’s’ quarters) attached to the western end of the south stroke of the ‘U’. Later extensions on the western side created a narrow inner court. Attached to the western end of the north wing is a long two-storey terrace that contains servant’s / farm labourer’s accommodation. To the rear west there is a series of stone outbuildings set within a farmyard. A long two-storey outbuilding, 'Outbuilding One', is set close to the west side of the house. A small extension to the south side combines with the servants quarter’s and the western face of the house to create an enclosed rear yard. To the western side there are two further ranges of two-storey outbuildings i.e. 'Outbuilding Two' and 'Outbuilding Three'. A detached ‘replacement’ dwelling has been constructed to the south and west of the main house. To the south is a large irregularly shaped walled garden. To the west side there is a range of metal clad farm sheds. East The eastern front façade is symmetrical. To the centre is a shallow breakfront. The front door opening is flat-headed; it is set within a raised stone surround with carved stone console brackets and is surmounted by a projecting cornice. To either side are tall narrow window openings while above there are two window openings one to first floor and one to second. Either side of the breakfront are three windows one to each floor. Openings have Georgian reductions to upper floors. South To the centre and right of the south façade is the three-storey section, while to the right, and slightly set back, is the later two-storey section; to the far left side is a single-storey addition that abuts outbuilding one. Taller floor to ceilings heights to the two-storey section result in common a ridgeline. To the centre of the façade (i.e. the left side of the three-storey section) is a projecting two-storey square bay. The bay is articulated with shallow pilasters that support an entablature; between ground and first floors there is a projecting cornice. The bay is topped with a parapet, which incorporates cast-iron balusters and panelled sections. Over the bay there are two window openings. Window openings to the ground floor are French Windows arranged in triplets with similar matching openings to first floor. Cheeks of the bay have single openings at each floor. These openings are tall and narrow with lower openings slightly taller. To the right side of the three-storey section window are evenly spaced with two openings to each floor. As before Georgian reductions are evident to upper floors. The two-storey section to the left side of the façade has openings arranged in triplets to ground and first floors. Those to the ground floor were doorways which originally lead into a conservatory, and are surmounted with shallow over lights, while the first floor openings are surmounted by triangular pediments. There is a single opening to the single storey section. West The rear west of the house is an ad-hoc mixture composed of various additions and extensions that attach to the western ends of the main north and south wings. The façade is flanked with two ‘wing ends’; there is a narrow open court between, but this is now land-locked with later additions. Across the ground floor of the Southern wing is a flat-roofed extension; on the right side a further flat-roofed extension abuts the east face of outbuilding one. A lean-to extension is set on the southern face of the north wing while the long servant’s quarters 'terrace' is set on the western face; the rear of the house combines with extensions and the east face of outbuilding one to create an enclosed rear yard. North The north face of the house is three-storey and is flanked with projecting three-storey semicircular bays; to the right side is a long, stepped and terraced, two-storey wing that contained servants quarters. The central section has four evenly spaced window openings to each floor; there are two matching windows to each floor of the bays. As before openings have Georgian reductions to upper floors. There is a date stone of 1803 over the ground floor window to the immediate right of the left-hand (eastern) semicircular bay. This is substantially concealed by thick creeper growth. Materials The roofs are mainly pitched and slated. These are hipped. A small single-storey extension to the west side is flat roofed. Cast-iron gutters rest on corbelled stone eaves courses; down spouts are round cast-iron. Chimneystacks rise from ridges and from the gable ends of the north and south wings. Stacks are rendered and have corbelled caps and some decorative clay pots. Walls are rendered with dressed stone quoins to corners. Window openings are stone dressings with stepped quoins and stone flat arch lintels. Many window frames are missing or boarded over. Frames are generally 6/6 sash. Window frames to some public rooms and the master’s bedroom are timber mullion and transom. The front entrance doors are paired, part glazed and panelled. Setting The house is located approximately two kilometres north east of the village of Killylea. It is set within open farm pasture, prominently positioned on a low rise. Servant’s Wing This long rectangular stepped wing is two-storey and abuts the western end of the north wing of the main house. It steps down in two stages creating the impression of two distinct dwellings (although in reality the two parts are internally linked and were servant’s quarter’s). Each part of the north façade has a series of three dormer windows to first floor and a series of evenly spaced ground floor windows. To far left at upper floor level there is a datestone with the Maxwell armorial and a latin inscription which reads 'SINE CRVCE SINE LVCE DOTAB IT DEVS STRVXIT ROBERT MAXWELL FILIVS ANO DO 1626'. (?Without the light of the cross- Endowed by God it was built by the son of Robert Maxwell in the year 1626 The right side of the rear south façade has two window openings to first floor and a door and a window to ground floor; all are evenly spaced. The left side abuts the adjoining Outbuilding One. Many window frames are missing or boarded over; those extant are generally 6/6 sash. Walled are rendered. The roof is part hipped and part gabled. A tall rendered chimneystack is attached to the ‘internal gable’ between the two halves of the stepped terrace. Abutting the Western side of the servant’s quarters is an open elliptical-headed arch that gives access to the farmyard. There is a date stone of 1884 and the cypher 'BD' (Blacker-Douglas) on the keystone of the arch. Attached to the left west side of the arch is what appears to be farm labourer’s accommodation- or perhaps a steward's house. This is two-storey and has a projecting two-storey gabled bay to the left of centre. Attached to the western gable is a small single-storey outhouse. Attached to the right side of the southern face is a further single-storey outhouse. The front north façade of the projecting bay has a roundel to first floor and a semi-circular headed dressed opening to ground. At first floor there are two windows to the right side and one to the left of the projecting bay. At ground floor there is one small window to the left and a later timber clad lean-to obscuring the ground floor of the right side. The rear has door and small window openings to the ground floor only. The roof is slated and gabled. Walls are rubble stone and part rendered. Window openings are mainly flat-headed and frames are either missing or boarded over. Door openings are flat-headed and doors are timber sheeted. Outbuilding One This is a rectangular outbuilding that abuts a return on the west side of the main house and the rear of the servant’s terrace. It is two-storied and the roof is pitched and slated. The southern side of the east façade is adjacent to the grand dining room; consequently this has been embellished with decorative features including jettied gables with pierced timber verges (now part missing) and diamond pattered openings. . The section to the north side of the east façade is randomly and more plainly composed. The west façade has a random, almost vernacular composition. To the right of centre is an elliptical-headed archway that leads to the rear yard. Other coach arches are elliptical-headed; these openings are all stone dressed. Window openings are all flat-headed and are of various sizes. The southern façade has a large flat-headed window opening with a Crittall-style frame to first floor and a flat-headed door opening to the left of the ground floor. The north side abuts the southern face of the servant’s terrace. The roof is slated with natural blue/black slate. There are two jettied gables but otherwise the roof is hipped. Rainwater goods are in cast-iron but are missing in many places. Wall to the south, west and the northern side of the east face are rendered. Walls to the south side of the east façade are stone faced. Coursing include random rubble and squared rock face. Outbuilding Two This lies to west of outbuilding one and is set roughly on an east-west axis. It is a two-storey, gabled-ended freestanding block whose long north and south facades have random, almost vernacular compositions. Doors and window openings are mainly flat-headed. To the east gable there is a segmental-headed hay loft door opening to first floor. Abutting the western façade is a later lean-to single-storey addition. Windows frames are mainly Crittall-style. First floor openings are very small. Doors are timber panelled. The roof is covered with natural blue/black slate. Walls are random rubble and partly covered with render. Outbuilding Three This is a freestanding ‘L’-shaped block. Walled garden This is located to the south of the house. Walls are part rubble stone and part brick. Some of the walls have collapsed and part appears to have been demolished. There is a replacement door to the north eastern corner.

Architects

Not Known

Historical Information

Elm Park- Historical background The Elm Park estate is of early 17th century origin, the creation of the Maxwell family, later passing to their descendants the Close and Blacker families, before being converted to a preparatory school in 1921. The school closed in 1954 and it was sold to a local farmer, and since then it has been used a s farm outbuilding party for the raising of chickens and partly for storage. The townland of Mullaghatinny, in which Elm Park is located, was the property of the See of Armagh, and in the early 1600s was leased to Connor O’Donellan. By 1626 Rev. Robert Maxwell II (1598-1672), later Bishop of Kilmore, had become tenant. He built a house there in that year which was subsequently occupied by his brother, James Maxwell. James was killed, and the house probably destroyed, during the 1641 rebellion and the sub-lease of Mullaghatinny passed to his son, Henry Maxwell (d.c.1691), who married his cousin, Margaret, Bishop Maxwell’s daughter. Their son, James, died childless leaving his two sisters as co-heirs to the estate. The younger sister, Margaret (d.c.1756-58), married firstly a Scotsman, Sir Robert Maxwell of Orchardstown, and after his death, Captain James Butler of Bramblestown, Co. Kilkenny. Captain Butler and Lady Margaret lived at Mullaghatinny and according to Thomas Ashes’s 1703 survey, made significant improvements to the property, erecting a corn mill and new outbuildings, planting holly hedges and encouraging a plantation of firs. Lady Margaret bequeathed Mullaghatinny to her grandson, Maxwell Close (1722-93), the eldest child of her only daughter, Catherine, and Rev. Samuel Close I (1683-1742), Rector of Donaghenry, Co. Tyrone. Maxwell Close married a relation, Mary Maxwell of Fellows Hall near Tynan, in 1748, and by early 1754 they had taken up residence in Limavady, with Mullaghtinny advertised for rent in that year. By 1763 they had moved back again. It is from this time that the house became known as ‘Elm Park’, a name that was applied to the estate as a whole by the early 1800s. The reason for the change is not certain; obviously it was in part at least down to fashion, but it may also have reflected some upgrade to the house itself (see below). After Maxwell Close’s death in 1793, Elm Park passed to his eldest son, Rev. Samuel Close II (1749-1817), Rector of Keady, and later Prebendary of Tynan. Samuel accumulated more land in Armagh, including the Brootally estate, left to him by his maternal grandfather, Captain Robert Maxwell of Fellows Hall. By 1803 his income was sufficient enough to allow him to buy the freehold of Elm Park and commence rebuilding the house itself. Samuel was succeeded by his son, Colonel Maxwell Close (1783-1867), who continued his father’s work of acquiring property in the county, buying the Drumbanagher estate at Poyntzpass from John Moore in 1818, and rebuilding its old mansion on a grand Italianate scale in 1829. The new Drumbanagher House became his main residence a few years afterwards, and Elm Park was rented to a relative Thomas Knox Armstrong (1797-1840), another descendant of the Maxwells of Fellows Hall. He was followed in c.1836-37 by the second Earl of Charlemont, who remained there until the work of remodelling Roxborough House was completed in 1845. After this the property appears to have remained vacant until 1851, when St. John Thomas Blacker (1822-1900), the son of Col. Close’s cousin, Rev. Samuel Blacker (1771-1849), became the occupant. Blacker held estates in Counties Dublin and Kerry and although he bought the freehold of Elm Park from his relative in c.1860, he only took up permanent residence there a decade later. In 1880 Mr. Blacker assumed the additional surname of Douglas after inheriting the estate of his uncle at Grace Hall near Dollingstown, Co. Down. It was probably the extra income this provided that allowed him extend Elm Park House and upgrade the outbuildings (see below). After his death in 1900, the house continued to be occupied by his widow, with his son and heir, Maxwell Vandeleur Blacker-Douglas (1859-29) residing mainly in Dublin. Maxwell may have intended to hand the estate over to his son Robert Blacker-Douglas (b.1892), but the latter’s death whilst serving in France in 1915, plus the rising costs of running the estate, placed doubt over its future. Thus, shortly after the death of his widowed mother in 1919, Maxwell Blacker-Douglas put Elm Park up for sale. By the end of 1920 only two firm offers had been made, both well below the asking price. The only other interest in the property had come from two English-born schoolmasters, Hugh Eric Seth-Smith and Willoughby Weaving, of Rockport Preparatory School, Craigavad, Co. Down, who were looking for a suitable country house in which to establish a new school. This idea appears to have appealed to Blacker-Douglas’s agent, Major John Charters Boyle, who proposed letting them have a 10-year lease of the house at a rent of £350 per annum, with the option to purchase at the end of that period for £7,000. The offer was accepted with Weaving and Seth-Smith taking the house and 61 acres, roughly a third of the townland. Elm Park Preparatory School opened in September 1921. Its role was to prepare boys for public school, mainly in England, but unusually, unlike many such institutions, individualism and creativity were encouraged and good conduct rewarded. Its pupils were largely drawn from upper middle class families, many with connections with the linen industry, and from an initial intake of just four boys and a staff consisting of the two masters and a matron, numbers rose to 27 by 1928, and 36 by 1937. Admissions almost doubled during the war years as many parents feared sending their sons to schools in England. The school’s two founders remained its driving force for over 25 years, Seth-Smith a tireless organizer and Weaving an inspirational teacher. The sudden death of the former in late 1946, therefore, was a major loss and this coupled with falling pupil numbers and the retirement of Willoughby Weaving in 1953 brought continued existence of the school into question. With the lease on Elm Park due to expire the decision was taken to close it at the end of the Easter term of 1954. The property was subsequently sold to Mr E.G. Speers, a local man who had recently returned home after working in copper mines in Rhodesia (present day Zimbabwe). Mr. Speers farmed the land but did not occupy the house, building a new home close by and using the old building for the raising of chickens as well as storage. His family still retain the building. Elm Park House The date stone on the northern side of the two-storey return to the rear of the present house, indicates that a dwelling was built on or close to this site by (Rev.) Robert Maxwell in 1626. This house, of which no description has survived, was subsequently occupied by Robert’s brother, Lieutenant James Maxwell. According to Robert’s own account of events during the 1641 rebellion, James was drowned by the rebels under Sir Phelim O’Neill; however, he makes no mention of the fate of the house, which has lead to the belief that it, like many others at this time, was destroyed. This is supported by the fact that no dwelling is recorded in the townland of Mullaghatinny in 1664 hearth money returns. Nonetheless the date stone appears to be an original piece of carving, and its survival could indicate that some sort of structure –or part of it at least- remained standing for a time. Whatever the case, we know that there was a substantial residence in place by 1703. Thomas Ashe describes this as a ‘very good stone house’ with 'handsome rooms above staires, a common hall, a parlour and kitchen and other very good offices below staires’. Along with this the estate also possessed ‘a good stone stable, a barne, a new ox house built with stone, a cow house and a corne mill with a small tenement…’. The occupants at this point were Captain and Lady Margaret Butler (see above) who Ashe describes as having carried out these and other ‘improvements’ to the property ‘at their own expense’. Although it is not implicitly stated, it is possible they were responsible for the building of the house itself, perhaps sharing in the confidence after the ending of the Williamite wars that encouraged many Irish landowners to build afresh. A lack of source material precludes any other speculation as to building developments on the estate in the century following 1703. Rocque’s map of 1760 reveals very little, giving no hint even of a garden. As noted above, however, the adoption of the name ‘Elm Park’ three years after this may reflect enhancement of some description. A major upgrade appears to have occurred in 1803, when, judging from the date stone on the curved bay to the north-east, the large three-storey hipped roof block was constructed. There is no known contemporary account of this work, so the date stone itself is all we really have as evidence, however, the style of the building is largely consistent with the period c.1790-1810. It is uncertain whether anything survived of the earlier house. The presence of the 1626 date stone on the two-storey return to the north-west could suggest that this section is older, but the stone itself may simply have been salvaged and relocated to this spot. Given the history of the site it would not be surprising if it was indeed moved on several occasions. The 6-inch OS map of 1835 depicts the main three-storey block along with the long return to the north. Strangely, the house is shown as facing almost directly east, rather than the north-easterly aspect it actually possesses, however, as some of the outbuildings are similarly shown out of alignment, we must assume that this is merely inaccuracy on the part of the cartographers. The plan of the house itself does appear decidely narrower to the south, which if not another map maker's error, suggests that there may have been a stage of development to this side prior to the lengthening which took place in the mid-1880s (see below). Apart from the mansion itself, the map also shows a long north-south aligned structure matching the size and positioning of the outbuilding to the immediate west (Outbuilding One in the description). A quadrangle of buildings to the immediate west of this is also shown, the southern range of which appears to correspond that still standing (Outbuilding Two). Part of the northern range of this (which may have been a dwelling house- see description) is also still in place. To the south of the quadrangle a building matching the plan and location of the still extant L-shaped section also appears on the map (Outbuilding Three), whilst a long structure, possibly a shed of some kind, is shown stretching from the southern side of the house south-westwards to where the modern dwelling house is now located. The outline of the walled garden also appears, however the shape is not exactly is it is today, its northern boundary considerably closer to the house than it is at present. In the first valuation of March 1837 the main house is listed as comprising of various sections measuring 64ft x 31 x 36, with a ‘basement storey, half servant’s rooms and half cellars etc.’ of 64 x 31 x 8½, a ‘rere cellar’ of 27½ x 8½ x 6, ‘end projection’ of 14 x 3 x 35, ‘return 1’ 45 x 19 x 22½, ‘return 2’ 23 x 18 x 16, ‘room over gateway’ 12 x 18 x 7, ‘return 3’ 44½ x 13½ x 15, ‘return 4’ 9 x 9½ x 15, ‘return 5’ 12½ x 14½ x 35, and ‘return 6’ measuring 12½ x 5½ x 9½. The dimensions of the outbuildings meanwhile are recorded as 27½ x 10 x 16½, 30½ x 10½ x 16½, 63 x 13 x 15, 43¾ x 18 x 15, 75 x 19½ x 15, 11 x 19½ x 6 (‘office over gateway’), 36 x 19½ x 15, 23½ x 13 x 12, 49 x 14¾ x 14½ (‘steward’s house’), 88½ x 15 x 9 (‘shed’), 47½ x 16 x 10, 15¾ x 15½ x 6½, 62 x 14½ x 7, 91 x 19½ x 12½, 44 x 20¾ x 11½, 61 x 19½ x 15¾, 64 x 19 x 14½ and 10 x [?12] x 5½. On the revised OS map of 1860 a porch is shown covering the main entrance to the house, whilst the southern side of the building looks longer than in 1835. As noted above, it is difficult to say whether this was the case in fact, given the problems posed by the earlier map. It is also difficult to compare dimensions listed in the 1837 valuation with those of the second valuation of 1863 (below) in search of an answer, as we cannot be certain the valuers divided the building up into exactly the same component ‘blocks’ for easy measurement on both occasions. The dimensions are recorded as follows- ‘house’ 21yds x 15 x 3(storeys), ‘south wing’ 8 x 6 x 3, ‘north wing’ 7 x 3 x 3, ‘basement (offices)’ 21 x 15 x 1,7 x 3 x 1, ‘basement (house)’ 8 x 6 x 1, ‘porch’ 6 x 3 x 1+, with other unspecified sections of the building amounting to 6 x 1 x 1+, 3 x 3 x 2, 15 x 4 x 2, 9 x 6 x 3, 11 x 6 x 2, and 14 x 3 x 3. The outbuildings on the 1860 map appear much as they did on that of 1835, although the long narrow structure extending south-westwards from the house towards the walled garden had been largely removed by this time, with only a small section (possibly garden sheds) left to the southern end. The walled garden itself had assumed its present form by 1860 also, the northern boundary having been pushed further south. In the space vacated by the long outbuilding and the walled garden an expansive lawn was laid out, allowing for a largely unbroken vista to the south of the house. The creation of this lawn appears to support the idea that this side of the building was extended in this period- as a new garden front would have required a situable view. The outbuildings are listed in the 1863 valuation as made up of structures measuring 6 x 6 x 2, 47 x 6 x 2, 21 x 6 x 2, 16 x 5 x 2 (‘steward’s house’), 8 x 5 x 2, 20 x 7 x 2, 15 x 7 x 1¼ (‘fowl’), 30 x 7 x 2 (‘stalls’), 1B+ 11 x 5 x 1 (‘shed’), 16 x 5 x 1, 5 x 5 x 1, and 20 x 5 x 1. The 1880s witnessed the building of the large extension to the south-western corner of the house, the conservatory and the square two-storey projection. These were designed by James Rawson Carroll of Dublin (1830-1911), and appear to have been carried out between 1884 and 1886, with Collen Bros the contractors and the cost amounting to £1,037 7s 2d. The large outbuilding (Outbuilding One) extending from the south side of the return also appears to have been embellished at this time, with decorative jettied gables added to its eastern side. Map evidence suggests that further outbuildings may have been added to the south-west of the existing complex at this date also, and greenhouses erected on the north-eastern side of the walled garden. Years later, when the house was up for sale, the Maxwell Blacker-Douglas’s agent stated that over £20,000 had been spent on the property during this time. The house retained its mid 1880s form until c.1950, when the porch was removed, with the conservatory dismantled at some point post-1977. The western range belonging to the quadrangle of outbuildings was demolished c.1920s-30s, with some other outbuildings to this end of the complex cleared away around this time also, with the greenhouses and some other structures to the south demolished after 1954 to make way for the modern house. Other buildings Two dwellings are designated as gate lodges on the 1835 OS map, one to the west along the rear drive, and another at what was originally the main entrance to the south. The southern entrance still retains a lodge, althought it has been converted in recent years to a garage for a neighbouring post-1977 bungalow. The lodge itself has overhanging hipped roof on brackets and appears to be perhaps c.1820-30s; however it could be of much later date as its site appears to be vacant on the 1860 map. Accompanying the lodge is a gate screen with unusual cut stone piers of quatrefoil profile, with cushion bases and concave pyramidal caps and a set of decorative iron gates with spear head rails. Dean believes the screen to be contemporary with the mian section of Elm Park House, i.e. 1803, but it looks as though it may be mid Victorian, perhaps c.1860s. The western lodge marked on the 1835 was longer than that to the south and as such would appear to have been the ‘gate house’ of 45ft x 15 x 9 recorded in the 1837 valuation. It was demolished sometime after 1860 and superseded by one sited much further to the south-west, at the end of a drive which had previously been a public road. The lodge, which is still in use as a dwelling house and is listed [HB15.12.020A], is a small, mildly picturesque gable-ended building with projecting porch, stone walls and an overhanging roof with ‘fish-scale’ slates. It looks as though it is of the 1880s and if so, was probably part of St. John Blacker Douglas’s ‘£20,000’ improvement scheme for the estate, and possibly the work of James Rawson Carroll. Dean believes it to be of 1867, but his assumption appears to be based on a mis-reading of the date of Rawson Carroll's plans for the main house. At the head of the northern drive off Knappagh Road there is another mildly picturesque lodge which appears to be c.1880s also. This lodge is also listed [HB15.12.020B]. Two ‘rustic bridges’ over the stream in woodland to the south of Elm Park House are shown on the 1835 map, but these do not appear on any later editions. References- Primary sources 1 TCD MS 809, fols.005r-012v (1642) 2 PRONI T848/1 (1703) 3 ‘Belfast News-Letter’, (26 Feb 1754) 4 Map of County Armagh by John Rocque (1760) 5 ‘Taylor’s and Skinner’s maps of the roads of Ireland’, (Dublin, 1777) 6 Coote, Sir Charles, ‘A statistical survey of County Armagh…’, (Dublin, 1804) 7 PRONI OS6/2/11/1 (1835) 8 PRONI VAL1B/236 (1837) 9 PRONI OS6/2/11/2 (1860) 10 PRONI VAL2B/2/41 (1863) 11 PRONI VAL12B/10/10A-D (1864-1929) 12 OSNI OS10-2-11-8-1; OS10-2-11-11-1 (1905) 13 OSNI OS10-2-11-8-2; OS10-2-11-11-2 (1952) 14 ‘Belfast Telegraph’ (22 May 1957) 15 OSNI OS11-217-7-1 (1977) Secondary sources 1 Dean, J.A.K., 'The gate lodges of Ulster- a gazetteer' (Belfast, 1994), p.37 2 Barden, Sean, ‘Elm Park 1626-1954- Country house to preparatory school’, (Belfast, UHF, 2004)

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

Historic Interest

V. Authorship Z. Rarity Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance W. Northern Ireland/International Interest

Evaluation

Set within a demesne of early 17th century origin, Elm Park House is a fine example of a large late Georgian country mansion, which despite use as a farm outbuilding for over half a century has retained much of its original fabric and internal detailing. The building has an interesting history, not only having served as the residence for a locally important family with connections to other notable country estates throughout the county including Fellows Hall, Darton Hall and Drumbanagher, but later as a preparatory school with an unusual (for the time) emphasis on individualism and idealism. The building’s setting is largely unspolit and many contemporary outbuildings have been retained, including a long range attached to the rear of the house which was decoratively remodelled in the late Victorian era. Other estate structures have also survived, have group value with and add to the main house's interest. Among them, three gate lodges (two of which are listed), a (seemingly) mid –Victorian gate screen, and close to the house and significant sections of the walling originally belonging to the walled garden.

General Comments

Listign Criteria: R- age and S - Authenticity also apply to this property.

Date of Survey

29 December 2011