Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB24/07/044

Address :
Ballyvester House 84 Ballyvester Road Ballyvester Donaghadee Co. Down

Townland:
Ballyvester

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Survey 2:
B+

Date of Listing:
20/12/1976 00:00:00

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
House

Former Use
House

Conservation Area:
No

Industrial Archaeology:
No

Vernacular:
Yes

Thatched:
No

Monument:
No

Derelict:
No

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OS Map No:
132/7

IG Ref:
J5787 7789

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Owner Category

Private

Exterior Description And Setting

Situated approximately 2 km South West of the Town centre of Donaghadee, on the south side of the Ballyvester Road, Ballyvester House is a large, originally 17th century, gabled farmhouse of two storeys, with an attic. The front N elevation is ‘symmetrical’ and has a central six panelled front door with fluted and blocked pilasters and a semi-circular archivolt which contains a ‘spider's web’ fanlight. To the right and left are two sliding sash windows with Georgian panes. The window to the immediate left of the door is a dummy window. The upper sash of the window to the left of this is partly obscured (internally) by a high level water cistern. To the right side of the elevation is a small modern lean to garage with a modern up and over garage door. At first floor there are five similar equally spaced windows. The two left hand windows are dummy. (all six over six). The E elevation is also symmetrical with two sliding sash windows to the first floor and two similar but shorter windows to the attic. Due to the fact that the main lounge opens off the half landing, the first floor windows on the E elevation are much lower than the first floor windows on the front N elevation. On the left of centre of the rear S elevation, is a two storey gabled return. To the right of the return is a small lean to modern conservatory above which are two windows to first floor. The left is a round headed multi paned fixed light and the right is a drop hung window as before. To the second floor is a small top hung window with Georgian panes. To the left of the return is a modern glazed door to ground floor with a sliding sash window as before to first floor. To the E side of the return is a small sliding sash window (with horizontal astragals only) above this is a larger sliding sash window as before. The S gable of the return has no windows but has a potless chimney to the apex of the gable. A modern weather vane is attached to the chimney stack. The gable is 'traversed' by guttering. The W side of the return has a modern casement window to the left hand side of the first floor. To the extreme right of the elevation is the rear of the lean to garage. This has no openings. The west side of the garage adjoins a number of outhouses which although quite old are of poor quality. The W gable has one small modern top hung timber window to the left hand side. Previously there was a matching window to the right side, but this is now blocked. The gables to the main house both have potless chimneys. Cast iron gutters and down spouts. Bangor blue slates. The wall finish externally is mainly painted rubble construction. Parts of the rear and gables are rendered and painted. Detailing of the stone to the west side of the main house differs from that to the east, suggesting that construction took place at different stages, or that part of the house was rebuilt. Windows to the front west side are almost flush with the elevation whilst those to the east have a well defined 'reveal'. The W gable has stone coping to the parapet, the E gable has no parapet.

Architects

Historical Information

Ballyvester House has a long history. The deeds of the property stretch back to 1624 when the house and the lands of Ballyvester were passed from Hugh Montgomery (who had come into possession of the Ards and much of its hinterland earlier in the century), to William and Archibald Edmonstone. Six years later the Edmonstones sold the entire property to William Catherwood for a consideration of £612 and a rent of £9 per annum. The house remained in possession of the Catherwood family 1828 when it then went through a number of owners including the family of James Craig, the later Prime Minister of Northern Ireland. The present occupants acquired the house in 1961. The fabric of the house itself has undergone at least two major alterations since the early seventeenth century. The building we see today, however, is largely a product of the early eighteenth century, with the earlier house remodelled with the addition of the eastern section, the repositioning of the stair and the introduction of the large ‘reception’ room, with dummy windows included to give the impression of early Georgian symmetry. The next major alteration occurred in c.1890 when the rear return was added. It has been suggested that the original dwelling was a tower house, but given the dimensions of what appears to be the earliest section, this appears highly unlikely. It may have been a type of bawn house, which incorporated a taller tower-like portion, but given the fact that such dwellings do not appear to have been common in this area of Ulster, and the apparent absence of any trace of a former bawn, this also appears unlikely. The earliest stonework is discernibly different from the later coursing, and the earlier window reveals are much shallower. References- Primary sources. 1. The Montgomery Manuscripts ed. Rev. George Hill (Belfast 1869), p.54 note 33. 2. PRONI OS Maps 1st ed. 1834, Co. Down 6. 3. PRONI VAL 1B/32 p.9 1st valuation, Donaghadee parish, Ballyvester Td., c.1836. 4. PRONI OS Maps 1st rev. 1858-60, Co. Down 6. 5. PRONI 2nd (‘Griffith’s’) valuation Donaghadee parish, Ballyvester Td., 1863. Secondary sources 1. Hugh Dixon et al Historic buildings, groups of buildings, buildings of architectural importance in Donaghadee and Portpatrick (UAHS 1977), p.32.

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

A. Style B. Proportion C. Ornamentation D. Plan Form H+. Alterations enhancing the building I. Quality and survival of Interior J. Setting

Historic Interest

V. Authorship Z. Rarity W. Northern Ireland/International Interest

Evaluation

Ballyvester House is substantial two storey ‘Georgianised’ farmhouse, with painted rubble facade, built around a dwelling of early seventeenth century origin. The unusual internal arrangement and front facade reflects something of the building’s complex evolution, with the ‘sunken kitchen’ below the grand lounge (which opens off into a half landing) all pressed into a Georgian overcoat with dummy windows creating an impression of symmetry. This house is unusual and quirky and not at all what it appears at first glance, something which adds greatly to its charm and its value.

General Comments

Date of Survey

15 May 1998