Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB18/11/041

Address :
Water attendants house 25 Ballybannon Road Castlewellan Ballybannon Townland Dundrum

Townland:
Ballybannon

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Survey 2:
B1

Date of Listing:
16/10/1995 00:00:00

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
Water Works Structures

Former Use
Water Works Structures

Conservation Area:
No

Industrial Archaeology:
Yes

Vernacular:
No

Thatched:
No

Monument:
No

Derelict:

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OS Map No:
240/10

IG Ref:
J3653 6960

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Owner Category

Private

Exterior Description And Setting

A one and a half storey/ two bay waterpipe attendant's dwelling on west side of Ballybannon Rd. Of rectangular plan, orientated east-west with gable to the road. Pitched natural slate roof with plain painted wooden bargeboards, moulded concrete kneeler stones, and ogee cast-iron gutters. Distinctive and attractive red brick chimney in centre of ridge, with yellow brick quoins (stepped) and cap. Walls of squared rubble Silurian in irregular courses over projecting basal course. Yellow brick used in projecting eaves, quoins (stepped) and along top of base course. Windows and door also trimmed with yellow brick heads and jambs (stepped); the latter also have stop-end chamfers. All the window openings have shallow segmental heads an chamfered painted cills (probably of concrete); the actual windows are 2/2 timber-framed sliding sashes (unless otherwise stated). Main facade faces north. At left is one-storey porch with pitched natural slate roof and raised yellow brick verges and concrete kneelers. Three granite steps lead up to painted tongue-and-groove boarded door in left cheek. Window in north-facing gable wall of porch. Right cheek blank. To right of porch, on wall of main block, is a single window opening. Wall continues east to enclose yard. East gable has two window openings to ground floor, and two to attic floor (in line with those below). The south wall is blank save for a single 1/1 top-hung replacement window (in original opening) to back room at ground floor left. West gable abutted at left by single-storey monopitched return along inside of yard's north wall. Above is a window to half landing. Above right of this is a similar window to back bedroom. Yard projects south and west of the dwelling, with the entrance on east wall. Wall similar to dwelling in construction and yellow-brick trim; coped with rock faced blocks. Original wide entrance now sheeted over and a wicket gate inserted. Square masonry gate pillar to each side of the original opening, each with yellow brick quoins and projecting flat concrete cap. Yard not inspected, but external view indicates that house internally connected to the one-storey return, from which exit to yard; attendants' houses elsewhere on conduit confirms this. South of the house is a pipe inspection chamber, the walls and flat roof of which are of reinforced concrete; metal access lids on top. Chamber contains a cross connection pipe and control valves between the three siphon pipes which run between the Tullybranigan well house and Shaw's Well. There is pair of red-painted wrought-iron gate to road. These are hung from cast iron posts, the ball heads of which are embossed 'BWC' (Belfast Water Commissioners).

Architects

Historical Information

Erected as part of the Mourne Scheme, by which the Belfast City & District Wa Commissioners brought water to Belfast from the Annalong and Kilkeel rivers. This was one of six identical lodges along the conduit; the others are at Tullybranigan (HB 18/13/70), Drumanaquoile (HB 18/16/7), Dunmore (HB 18/16/22 Ballykine (HB 18/6/13) and Creevytenant (HB 18/1/38). There were also more substantial water-related dwellings at the Silent Valley, Dunnywater and Knockbreckan. The plans were drawn up by L.L. Macassey, Engineer to the BCDWC, and approved the Board in February 1899. The contract (no.16, valued at £6806) for erecting all six houses was awarded to Messrs Courtney & Co in November of the same year. By April 1901, all were nearing completion, and they were presumably occupied the time the pipeline was officially opened in October of that year. Cited as a caretaker's house in the 1902 valuation. Sources: Minutes of BCDWC Works Committee, PRONI - WAT1/3AC/2, pp.44, 91, 142, 276. L.L. Macassey (1901), 'Mourne scheme and sundry works progress report, 15 Apr 1901' (PRONI - WAT1/3CG/6). DOE Water Service, Westland House- drawings 4C8, 2D53-55. PRONI- VAL 12B/18/9D, p.30

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

A. Style B. Proportion C. Ornamentation D. Plan Form J. Setting K. Group value

Historic Interest

V. Authorship X. Local Interest Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance

Evaluation

One of the linesmen's houses along the Mourne conduit. Constructed in the distinctive and attractive style of the BCDWC and of undoubted historical interest in the building complex being associated with Belfast's first water supply from the Mournes. A one and a half storey, two bay waterpipe attandant's dwelling of rectangular paln and orientated east west with gable to the Ballybannon Road with intact gates and pipe inspection chamber. Although of modest scale,the complex has been carefully executed and good use has been made of contrasting yellow brick in its embellishment. Although now in private ownership, it continues to be used for its original purpose.

General Comments

Date of Survey

21 March 1998