Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB06/01/034

Address :
Carnlough Harbour, Harbour Road, Carnlough, Ballymena Co Antrim

Townland:
Carnlough South

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Survey 2:
B1

Date of Listing:
25/06/1979 00:00:00

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
Harbour/ Pier

Former Use
Harbour/ Pier

Conservation Area:
Yes

Industrial Archaeology:
Yes

Vernacular:
No

Thatched:
No

Monument:
No

Derelict:
No

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OS Map No:
45/3

IG Ref:
D2875 1805

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Owner Category

Local Govt

Exterior Description And Setting

A harbour constructed mainly of limestone rubble, with some basalt rubble also used, comprising an inner basin and an outer basin, lined by substantial quays, with a concrete slipway at the north end, and a crescent shaped landing station with steps constructed in limestone on the main quay. The quays have been surfaced with concrete containing basalt chips. The north pier is in two stepped tiers, with an inner facing of large roughly squared limestone blocks with intermittent large basalt blocks; there is a set of limestone steps at the southern end of the quay; the upper tier is ramped near the northern end. There is an extensive mass of loose basalt rocks to the outer or seaward side. The main pier is on one level only, apart from the ramped and stepped landing station, and is faced with limestone rubble. It curves round at the south end to enclose the inner basin and contains a series of large old timber blocks or buffers projecting at the south end just below quay level. Along the eastern side of the inner basin there is a high level terrace with a limestone rubble retaining wall, later surmounted by new snecked limestone piers and modern iron railings; approached by steps at each end; terrace and steps are a new creation dating from 1993. Beyond the terrace, the outer face of the quay along the eastern side of the inner basin, next to the sea, is formed by a substantial sea bastion constructed of snecked limestone rubble. Along the northern side of the inner basin is the south pier, on one level only, which projects toward the west to form the opening into the inner basin; original limestone facing is mostly resurfaced in concrete; top is grassed over. Marking the entrance to the outer basin is a pair of cylindrical metal pillars surmounted by beacon lights, and painted with black and white banding. SETTING: The harbour is located at the north end of the village approached by land from the main street, through a number of entrances leading on to the main quay, and overlooked by a terrace of houses and other properties on the other side of the road. The main quay is bounded by a low basalt rubble wall with basalt rock copings; entered from the main road by four gateways as follows: at extreme north end is a wide ill-formed opening in the boundary wall, where the walling has been crudely breached, leading on to the slipway. To the south of that is a narrow vehicular opening also crudely formed; to the south of that is a third narrow vehicular opening also of crude formation; to the south of that is a vehicular opening marked by a short limestone pier with a concrete cap, and a later pier of concrete brickwork, with a concrete cap; at the extreme south end is a modern vehicular opening formed by the angled extremity of the front boundary wall, and a snecked limestone rubble planter with a name plaque inscribed 'Carnlough Harbour'. Standing near the north end of the main pier is a rectangular single storey boat house of rubble basalt and limestone with a segmental corrugated iron roof, and there are other limestone rubble buildings located at the east end of the south pier. The terrace to the east overlooking the inner basin has been largely surfaced in grass and leads on to the former railway embankment, now a pedestrian walkway, leading inland across the village over two former railway bridges that span Harbour Road and High Street.

Architects

Byrne, Paddy

Historical Information

Built from 1853 to 1855 by the Marquis and Marchioness of Londonderry to the designs of engineers from Seaham in Durham as part of their scheme to change Carnlough from an insignificant fishing village into a more prosperous locality, through the export of limestone which was quarried just inland from the village and then transported on a mineral railway, running along the harbour wall, to be discharged into waiting boats. Formerly there was a brass plate fixed to the harbour wall bearing the inscription “To commemorate the landing for the first time of Frances Ann Vane Marchioness of Londonderry on her own pier at Carnlough Harbour 20 August 1855”, but it has now been moved to the foyer of the Londonderry Arms hotel (HB06/01/008). The harbour was refurbished as a recreational amenity in 1993 to the designs of Paddy Byrne, Architects. Prior to the building of the present harbour there had been a small stone-built pier or quay built in the late 18th century by Philip Gibbons; this was absorbed into the present north pier. The boat house at the north end of the harbour, beside the road, was formerly a store for kelp. References – Primary Sources 1. OS Map 1832, Co Antrim 25 (shows former quay). 2. OS Map 1857, Co Antrim 25. 3. Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland, Vol 13: Parishes of County Antrim IV, 1830-8 (Belfast, 1992), pp 3 and 6 (refers to the former quay). Secondary Sources 1. J. Irvine, 'Carnlough harbour development scheme 1854-64', Journal of the Glens of Antrim Historical Society (1977), pp 22-30. 2. W.A. McCutcheon, The Industrial Archaeology of Northern Ireland (HMSO, Belfast, 1980), p 186. 3. M. McSparran, C. Dallat and J. Irvine, Oh Maybe it was Yesterday (Glens of Antrim Historical Society, 1980), pp 17 and 18. 4. DOE (NI), Carnlough Conservation Area (1981). 5. C. Dallat, The Road to the Glens (Belfast, 1989), p 20. 6. P. Magill, Garron Tower (Belfast, 1990), pp 54 and 57. 7. F. Hamond, Antrim Coast and Glens: Industrial Heritage (HMSO, Belfast, 1991), p 87 (item no. 59). 8. R.C. Cox and M.H. Gould, Civil Engineering Heritage: Ireland (London, 1998), pp 198-200. 9. IHR 6617.

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

D. Plan Form J. Setting K. Group value

Historic Interest

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

Evaluation

This is a mid-19th century harbour of sound construction and attractive appearance which occupies a pleasant coastal setting. It is of considerable local historical interest due to its role in the 19th century industrial development of the village and is of considerable social importance as a local amenity.

General Comments

Date of Survey

19 December 2000