Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB16/05/017

Address :
Ballyedmond Castle Killowen Road Rostrevor Newry Co Down BT34 4AD

Townland:
Ballyedmond

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Survey 2:
B2

Date of Listing:
03/12/2004 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:
No

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OS Map No:
283/4

IG Ref:
J2069 1477

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Owner Category

Private

Exterior Description And Setting

Modest sized country house of informal design in Tudor Gothic Revival style, in its own landscaped demesne which runs to the sea from the south side of Killowen Road. Generally two storey with attics, the main front is of five structural bays, with additional single storey wings to east and west ends. Aligned W-E with entrance front north facing. The entrance is contained within a tower forming the central bay, with two asymmetric bays to left and to right. Those to left of tower are much lower than those to right. The bay immediately to right of the tower is double pile, that to left is set back from main front, and those to either end run at right angles to façade. The roofs are steeply pitched in natural slate with cock’s comb crested ridge tiles; verges are raised and coped and have decorative kneelers and apex stone. Chimneys are irregularly arranged but are all of similar design - three stages comprising a rectangular brick base with stone coping then a brick shaft in which the individual flues are expressed (2, 3, and 4 to a stack variously), finished by a sandstone string course above which is a rectangular brick cap with sandstone coping. Walls are Flemish bond red brickwork, with sandstone dressings to windows, doors, stepped quoins, chimneys, coping etc. Moulded sandstone eaves course supports ogee cast iron gutters with square downpipes. To ease description bays are numbered L-R on north elevation 1-5, with description starting at centre (bay 3): The main entrance tower is in four stages. At ground floor centre a single sandstone step rises to the front entrance. Pair of stained and varnished timber Gothic doors with three levels of panels: lowest are linenfold, central are cusped and top panels are traceried. Each door has a Gothic brass pull. These are set within a Gothic archway with chamfered moulded jambs and intrados. The outer roll mould of the jambs rises to form a rectangular frame over the Gothic head, within which are carved stylised oak leaf spandrels in bas-relief. Over is a rectilinear label mould. Breaking the centre this label mould is a decorative corbel, carved to form the head and shoulders of a female angel (face slightly eroded) with finely carved wings and holding a blank shield. This corbel supports the three stage moulded base (convex, concave, and ogee moulded) of a canted oriel window on second stage of tower. This window is all in sandstone and has three equal faces. Each face has a four-light (2/2) transom and mullion window with chamfered reveals and flush cills. Over window is a narrow cornice surmounted by a saddle coped crennelated parapet. The third stage of tower has a six-light (3/3) transom and mullion window with chamfered dressings and flush cill. The fourth stage has a similarly detailed, but with a slightly smaller window. Above this is a narrow, moulded stringcourse upon which rests a crenellated brick parapet with saddle backed copings. The parapet wraps around all four sides of the tower, incorporating a chimney to west and a stair turret to south east (see later). Left (east) elevation of tower is abutted to left by the stair turret. Exposed section of wall has a four-light (2/2) mullion window to left of centre at ground floor. Centred at first floor is a six light (3/3) transom and mullion window. Wall is blank above. Stair turret is in five stages (top stage projects above tower). The first is rectangular, with a cusp headed lancet window on its north (front) wall. The second is broached to form an octagon and has a similar window. The first and second stages are abutted at left by the second bay of the main block. The third and fourth stages are octagonal, with a cusped lancet window on NE face of the third stage, and similar on the north and south faces of the fourth stage. The moulded sandstone stringcourse of the tower wraps around the turret at this stage. Its fifth stage has a cusped lancet on its NE face and a door on to the roof of the tower on its west face. This is finished by a spire roof in seven overlapping courses of dressed sandstone with a decorative iron finial. The right (west) elevation of the tower is abutted to stages 1-3 by the fourth bay of the façade. Remaining wall over is blank, with stringcourse and parapet over. To centre of parapet, stepping in three gabled stages is a decorative brick and sandstone chimney. The rear wall is abutted by the rear pile of the fourth bay and has a six paned (3/3) transom and mullion window on its fourth stage, above which is the parapet, detailed as front. The fourth bay is narrow and two storeys high and its front wall is flush with the entrance tower. Its front pile has a pitched roof (which continues over fifth bay) with modern gabled timber dormer to centre of front pitch of roof, with bargeboard and sheeted decoration. Brickwork at ground floor is decorated with blue headers in a diaper lattice, with a small cusped lancet to left and right between ground and first floor. Over, filling wall above diaper pattern, is an eight-paned (4/4) transom and mullion window. Each pane has a tracery head and is lead glazed with coloured lights. Over is a rectilinear label mould. Continuing to right, the wider fifth bay comprises a slightly advanced cross gable. At ground floor is a blue diaper design as before, and set into it at centre between ground and first floor is a dressed sandstone lozenge, cusped and containing a bas-relief armorial. This is quartered, with lion passant in first quarter; three stars in second; third has chequers over a rose; fourth has a Royal crown over a heart. At first floor are two six-light (3/3) transom and mullion windows with canted reveals and rectilinear hoods over. Set into the gable, to left and right of centre, is a single cusped lancet window. Between the window heads is a corbel carved into the shape of a man’s head. This supports a projecting sandstone shaft, upon which rests a barley sugar chimney stack which ties into a brick chimney on gable end. To right of the cross gable the main wall continues a further 2m before turning onto the west face (see later). Second bay, to left of entrance tower, is two storied and much reduced in scale compared to bays four and five. Its roof ridge reaches the top of stage two of tower. It is set back from the tower façade and its roof runs parallel with façade. To ground floor centre is a six light (3/3) transom and mullion window (detailed as others). At first floor there are two two-light mullion windows. To the right of these is a cusped lancet window. At extreme left on this bay the chimney of bay one abuts at right angles and ties into its roof. Bay one (at extreme left) is an advanced cross gable. Its roof runs at right angles to façade and has a three-shaft chimney breaking its ridge, parallel to facade. On its exposed right cheek is a tall two-stage/four-shaft chimney. Its front gable is symmetrical with an eight light (4/4) transom and mullion window at ground floor centre and a similar six light (3/3) one to first floor. There is a single cusped lancet in gable apex. The east elevation of the building is abutted at ground floor by the kitchen wing (which is contemporary with house but plainer) Remaining wall over is abutted to left by an advanced chimneystack with two sandstone dressed stacks (tied into roof with a small gablet). Remaining wall has a door on to kitchen roof at centre, with a two-light mullion window to either side. The kitchen wing is single storey and with a semicircular end. It wraps around a central yard, now roofed over. Roof is leaded with modern curvilinear glazed skylights. Walls are red brick with a saddle coped (leaded) parapet. To north façade is a four paned mullioned window. Continuing around to rear are several window and door openings, some granite dressed, and all with slightly different dressings, but in keeping with overall concept. All bays to rear elevation (garden front) are detailed as façade with the addition of a canted sandstone basecourse. This elevation is described L to R, starting with bay one (i.e. bays numbered in reverse to front elevation.) The first bay (extreme left) is slightly advanced and forms a cross gable. On its ridge is a cross-gabled capping stone with trefoil decoration on each face. At ground floor centre is a single storey canted bay window, on a brick base which has a chamfered sandstone coping. A crenellated saddle coped parapet conceals the flat roof, and its front has a narrow six paned (3/3) transom and mullion window, with each cheek having a similar four paned (2/2) window. At first floor is a tall six paned (3/3) transom and mullion window. On its gable apex is a small two-paned mullion window with rectangular moulded label. To its right is the second bay. These two bays are of a grander vertical scale than the remainder of the facade so that the right-hand cross wall rises to a free gable, on the peak of which is a square stone bellcote (no bell) which is slightly advanced from the gable on stone corbels and has a single cusped lancet opening on each face. The roof of this bay is pitched and runs parallel to façade, tying into fifth bay on extreme left. On its garden facing pitch is a modern gabled timber dormer window with bargeboard. The front wall of this bay is slightly advanced from bay two and has two similar openings on each floor. Those to ground floor are six paned (3/3) transom and mullion windows and those above are similar but diminished in height. On the wall between these, forming a cross, is decorative blue brick diaper work (as façade). There is no third bay (corresponding with front tower) on this elevation, the second and fourth bays (as viewed from front) each advancing to meet one another behind the tower. Rear pile of the fourth bay has a pitched roof running parallel with this elevation. To its right end is a two-shaft brick chimney. This also has a pair of saddle coped brick gablets rising from the wall-head (offset slightly right of centre). Each has a small sandstone shield inset. To extreme left at ground floor is a glazed and panelled stained timber door. Over it at first floor is a six-paned (3/3) transom and mullion window. Centred to remainder of ground floor is a single storey canted bay window as that on bay one. At first floor, set below each of the gablets, is a four paned (2/2) transom and mullion window. Bay five (extreme right) is an advanced cross gable with a six light (3/3) transom and mullion window at ground floor and similar above (with a label mould). There is a cusped lancewindow to the gable apex. The west elevation is abutted at ground floor by a modern ballroom extension. The remaining wall above has an advanced gable to left and a pitched roof to right, parallel with this elevation and with two timber dormers (as previous). The gable has a six paned (3/3) transom and mullion window to first floor centre and in apex is a cusped lancet window. Its wall is decorated with diaper brick up to the first floor cill. The wall to right has two six-paned (3/3) transom and mullion windows, although that to right is in timber and not stone. This wall is decorated in diaper patterned brickwork (as before). The abutting ballroom has a semicircular end (inspired by kitchen on east elevation) and is single storey. Its saddle coped parapet is lead covered and conceals a flat lead roof with glazed dome over. Its walls are rustic red brick punctuated with yellow and blue bricks. To front and around end the openings are four and six paned transom and mullion windows, in sandstone. To garden front, at join with main block, is a pair of four panelled (top two glazed) stained timber doors with tracery timber Gothic transom light over. Most areas of wall on the main block have creepers climbing timber trellises. The boundary to the Killowen Road is a modern red brick wall with blue diaper work detailing. The main gates are set within a convex screen of modern Gothic detailed railings and the similarly detailed gates are held on open tracery metal piers. The gates to service lane (further south) are similarly detailed on brick piers which Gothic details which have been copied from the entrance to the stable yards. The original tree planting of the small demesne is said to represent the battle formations at Waterloo. It was laid out by the original owner a Mr Stewart who had been aide to the Duke of Wellington and has been added to and enhanced by the present owner; but keeping the original plan. Immediately to front of house is a gravelled forecourt, enclosed to north by a 12-bay balustrade (with urns) said to have come from Baronscourt, Newtownstewart, Co. Tyrone. Through a central opening in this balustrading runs a modern timber pergola with a rose garden on either side. The east end of the forecourt (by kitchen) has a two tier bronze fountain (originally from a Paris park) which the present owner installed. In demesne to east of main house is a modern pump house designed to mimic the main house, with brick walls, sandstone dressings, tower, turret and lancet openings. To SE of the house is a modern Japanese garden with stream, pools and timber garden house. The gardens to south of the house have three terraces connected by granite steps in two sets of five flights and decorated with cast iron urns. To the centre of the lowest terrace is a cast iron fountain said to have originated at the 1851 Crystal Palace exhibition. Beyond, to south of the terraces, is a small circular formal garden. Its centrepiece is a chevron decorated marble column capped by a marble ball carved with a frieze of rustic classical figures and grotesque faces. This feature is said to have stood in the Chelsea Flower Show c.1994. To the west of the house, beyond the modern rhododendron garden and magnolia walk, is the walled kitchen garden; the wall is red brick (east wall demolished). Along its west wall is a range of modernised single storey stables, coach houses and farm buildings around two yards. The lower yard is in brick, with some Gothic lancets and gables and is entered from the south through a set of decorative gate piers. This detailing was the inspiration for the buttresses and gate piers on the modern boundary wall built along the Killowen Road. To south of yards is a modern helicopter landing-pad. Beyond, on shoreline, is a boathouse (not inspected). Recent photographs in owner’s possession illustrate a plain structure with rubble stone walls and corrugated metal roof. Adjacent to this is a small stone built quay.

Architects

Lanyon, Charles

Historical Information

An earlier house is shown on this site on Taylor and Skinner’s map of 1777. This house was built by Mr Pollock and was owned in 1806 by Mrs Hamilton when her niece Maria Edgworth visited it. Described in 1836 Ordnance Survey Memoir as a “good plain two storey house with additions and in good order”, the residence of Alexander Stewart. It is believed by Major Reside that this house was demolished in 1848 and that Stewart built the current house the following year. Architect is reportedly Charles Lanyon although no documentary evidence can be found to substantiate this. However some of the details, e.g. tower, turret, corbel heads and window openings, are very similar to those of the Lanyon building at Queen’s University, Belfast which is contemporary. It is shown in its present form (without ballroom wing) on the 1859 OS map. House sold to a Mr Kelly Patterson c.1880 who subsequently sold it to a Mr Douglas. Was raided in the 1920s by IRA searching for concealed UVF guns. It is said that the garden terraces were constructed with the compensation money the family was awarded for damage incurred to floors during the IRA raid. House was occupied during WW2 by United States Air Force who constructed a camp (now gone) in the demesne. In 1966 it was sold to Harris Hotels Ltd and converted to a 10-bedroom hotel at a cost of c.£100,000. Fire bombed in a terrorist attack in 1972. It remained a gutted shell until the current occupant purchased the property in the mid 1980s and began restoration c.1987. A photograph in Mourne Observer illustrates the ground floor of the west elevation (now abutted by ballroom). To ground floor left (on gable) is a transom and mullion window, to extreme right is a similar window and at join with advanced gable (abutting gable cheek and flush with its front wall) is a rectangular bay window with plain brick parapet and transom and mullion window. This illustration shows that modern current timber dormers are simplified replicas of those, which were originally on the roof. In the past (before the construction of the present Killowen Road), the demesne extended further north than it does today and was bounded by the Killowen Old Road. The original drive still remains between the Killowen Road (opposite the present front gates) and the Killowen Old Road entrance. A single storey lodge (altered beyond recognition) survives just across the road from the main gates on Killowen Road. On the Killowen Old Road, a pair of plain granite gate posts and rubble fieldstone walling marks the original entrance and boundary. No architect was employed in the refurbishment, the present occupant having his plans executed by local craftsmen. Staircase from Robinson and Cleaver’s Belfast department store dates from 1886-8 and was built by Robinson and Son of York Street, Belfast, to designs by Young and Mackenzie. Primary sources: 1. Letter from Major G.W Reside to owner (dated 1988) in Irish Architectural Archive, Dublin (cat no. RP.P.132.9). 2. Article in Mourne Observer, 14 December 1966. “Housewife with time for business” (Author Beverley). 3. Ordnance Survey Memoir, Kilbroney Parish (1836). 4. PRONI-OS 6/3/54/1 (1834 map) (Down sheet 54). 5. PRONI-VAL 1B/361, p.126 (1838 valuation book). 6. PRONI- OS 6/3/54/2 (1859 map) (Down sheet 54).

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

A. Style B. Proportion C. Ornamentation H-. Alterations detracting from building J. Setting

Historic Interest

X. Local Interest V. Authorship

Evaluation

A highly attractive and fine example of a Tudor Revival country house reputedly designed by Lanyon and set within a mature planted landscape. Following a fire in the early 1970s, the current owner has restored both the exterior and interior with a sympathetic modern ballroom wing on the west side.

General Comments

Date of Survey

06 October 1998