Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB16/07/031 A

Address :
Cabra House 10 Cabra Road Rathfriland Co Down BT34 5EW

Townland:
Cabragh

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Survey 2:
B+

Date of Listing:
22/09/1981 00:00:00

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
Country House

Former Use
Country House

Conservation Area:
No

Industrial Archaeology:
No

Vernacular:
No

Thatched:
No

Monument:
No

Derelict:
Partially

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OS Map No:
254/2

IG Ref:
J2515 3398

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Owner Category

Private

Exterior Description And Setting

A two storey (+ semi-basement) / three bay symmetrical neo-classical mid 19th C country housev with house yard behind, farmyard to W and walled garden to S (yards and garden ref HB16/07/031C), all in mature grounds on W side of Cabra Road; approached through gates and screen along avenue. Hipped natural slate roof with black clay ridges and large rectangular central valley (not visible from ground). Valley contains a rectangular lantern with a hipped natural slate roof , and fixed multi-glazed cheeks. Valley is accessed from rear through a doorway which is set within a natural slated dormer. There are five chimneys to main roof - three to front ridge and two to rear. All are in ashlar granite, with moulded bases supporting tall octagonal stacks. All have three stacks with exception of front central one which has two. Metal box section gutters rest on wall head and drain to right elevation. Walls are lined rendered with a projecting granite platband between basement and ground floor, and overhanging (Roman Doric style) eaves cornice. Front (S) elevation is three bays wide with central one half the width of the others. Six broad shallow rendered pilasters rise from platband (here level with outside ground level) with moulded capitals supporting a plain advanced eaves frieze below aforementioned cornice. These pilasters separate the façade into five equal panels. Main entrance is to ground floor centre and is contained within an open Tuscan porch which abuts the pilasters to left and right of middle bay. Three dressed ashlar granite steps rise to its granite paved floor. Two pairs of stout Tuscan columns in line with the top step support an entablature, consisting of a plain frieze with astragal, overhanging cornice and blocking course. This has been covered with a modern timber and felt roof which is in a state of collapse. Front door is set to centre of middle bay and consists of two leaves each with two moulded panels, with a decorative brass knob. Its jambs are of timber with capital heads supporting a timber frieze over which is a 4x2 paned transom with vertical margins between each frame. To either side of door, square ashlar granite pilasters (in line with porch columns) frame the sidelights. The latter have ashlar apron panels (with square recesses and projecting cills) and are glazed to match the transom. Pilaster to right of door has a brass bell inset. Each remaining ground floor bay and all first floor bays have single sliding sash windows with granite cills; those to ground floor are 6/6 and those to first floor and 6/3. A projecting plain platband links the pilasters between ground and first floors. Abutting wall to right of porch are two sets of plastic soil pipes which drain from central bay over porch to basement level. There is a basement passage to this elevation, which is vaulted over with concrete paving slabs. This passage is lit by overhead grilles to each side of porch. No front basement openings. Left (W) elevation is detailed as façade but only three windows wide. The basement is exposed. Its left and right bays each contains a 3/3 sliding sash window with granite cill and security bars over. A similar opening on the central bay has been enlarged and a pair of modern plywood doors inserted. Fronting this elevation is a modern timber framed glass house, with corrugated Perspex roof, containing a swimming pool. Rear (N) elevation fronts a large house yard. This elevation is three bays wide (central one slightly recessed) and rises from exposed basement. Partially abutted at left corner by a two storey outbuilding. Basement wall is lime dashed with the platband between it and ground floor. Upper floors are lined rendered with projecting a second platband between ground and first floors. Eaves course is as front elevation. Cast iron down pipes run down the reveals of the recessed central bay. All openings to this elevation have granite cills. Basement openings are as follows: centred on left bay is a 1/1 modern timber window within an original opening. At left of central bay is an original four panelled painted timber door incorporating four fixed top lights. To centre is a 3/3 sliding sash with security bars. To right is a sheeted timber door with original vent inset. To centre of right bay is a wide sheeted timber door, inserted into an enlarged (cill removed) window opening. There are four windows to each upper floor- one to left and right bays and two to central one. Those to ground floor are 6/6 sliding sashes and those to first are 6/3 sashes. Right (E) elevation is detailed as left. Basement walls are smooth rendered with three window openings. Left and middle windows are 3/6 sashes with granite cills and brick flat arched heads. Both have security grilles over. The right window has a similar head and cill and is inset with modern fixed window with top hung transom. Each wall panel to ground and first floor has a window as façade. First floor right window has had sash replaced with a six paned sash from elsewhere in the building. The gardens to S and E of house are planted with mature beech trees, ground falls to the S, and here is an ornamental pond. The drive runs SE from the house to a gate screen and lodge on the E boundary with Cabra Road (HB16/07/031B) and in separate ownership. Entrance Gates and Screen Gates are set within a concave screen on bend of main road. The screen consists of a chamfered ashlar granite dwarf wall supporting decorative wrought iron railings with cast details. The railings have a top rail of diagonal crosses (between each vertical) and their finials are spear headed. Railings are attached to the dwarf wall by occasional cast cushion balls. Ashlar granite piers with chamfered plinths, plain shafts and overhanging moulded pyramidal copings terminate both ends of concave screens. The gates proper consist of a pair of carriage gates and two matching pedestrian gates. Gates are as the railings with an additional dog rail at bottom consisting of diagonal crosses set between the verticals. These are supported by large (taller than the ones to the screen) ashlar granite piers, with chamfered plinths, panelled shafts and moulded two stage pyramidal copings. Each has a wheel stone with rounded head, and inside the carriage gates is a cattle grid. Between the carriage gate piers and the inner screen piers the pedestrian gates are hung.

Architects

Not Known

Historical Information

A house is shown at Cabragh on Kennedy’s 1755 map. It is possible that this was the residence of Arthur Maginis (d1737) and his wife Catherine (nee Hall), (d1713) whose memorial is in Clonduff Churchyard, (HB16/07/014). Hugh Magennis of the Royal Downshire Militia inherited the lands in 1802. The property was subsequently purchased by Alexander McMullan, a Castlewellan business man and founder of the firm later known as Mooney Bros. Although a building is shown hereabouts on the 1833 OS 6’’ map, the complex does not assume its present form, complete with outbuildings and yards, until the 1859 edition. This indicates a mid 19th C erection date by McMullan. He also erected a mausoleum in the churchyard of St Mary’s RC Church (HB16/07/030B) for his son Patrick Francis who died on the 29th May 1841 aged 22 years. One of McMullan’s daughters married George Henry Gartland (who was occupant in 1861). His successors were resident into the 1970s, the last one being Major General Gerald Ian Gartland CBE, MC, DL, JP who addressed the crowd at the unveiling of the war memorial in Rathfriland (HB16/08/007) on 10th August 1955. The house has had a succession of owners up until c1994 when the present occupant purchased it. Primary Sources: 1. Kennedy’s map of Co Down, 1755 (PRONI: T1006/1). 2. First edition OS 6’’ map 1833, Co Down sheet 42. 3. 2nd edition OS 6’’ map 1859, Co Down sheet 42. 4. Second valuation book, c.1861 (PRONI: VAL 2B/3/49B, p.25). 5. Information from occupant in 1999. Secondary Sources: 1. W.H. Carson, “Historic Clocks of Co Down, Rathfriland War Memorial Clock” Mourne Observer 1980. 2. J.A. McCracken “Rathfriland Local History” (notes in Rathfriland Public Library, John Street).

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

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

An imposing neo-classical pile set in mature grounds with extensive yards and outbuildings. Virtually unaltered, of particular note internally is its top lit stairwell.

General Comments

Date of Survey

19 March 1998