Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB16/02/019

Address :
‘The Restaurant’ Silent Valley Reservoir Scheme Head Road Kilkeel Newry Co Down BT34 4PU

Townland:
Carrigenagh Upper

---

Survey 2:
B2

Date of Listing:
15/03/1996 00:00:00

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
Shop

Former Use
House

Conservation Area:
No

Industrial Archaeology:
Yes

Vernacular:
No

Thatched:
No

Monument:
No

Derelict:
No

---

OS Map No:
278/4

IG Ref:
J3075 2143

---

Owner Category

Central Govt

Exterior Description And Setting

A single-storey building set on a terrace overlooking the Kilkeel River just south of the Silent Valley dam. Gabled roof clad in corrugated metal, painted green and with finialed gabled. Two rendered chimney stacks on ridge (over internal walls). Metal rainwater goods. Walls are corrugated sheeted metal, painted white, over wooden framing set on concrete plinth. Veranda to southeast facing frontage with porched entrance (now disused) at left; supported on five cast-metal columns. Original windows survive on gables and at rear, but only partially along front. They are paired wooden 2/1 casements. The fenestration of the bay window at right front has been changed to a large picture window. New windows also inserted along facade along with a new entrance. The fire exit door on right gable is an original opening. All the doors appear to have been replaced. Small concrete outbuilding at rear north-east corner is probably an original feature.

Architects

Not Known

Historical Information

Built as a meeting room for the Belfast City & District Water Commissioners during the construction of the Silent Valley reservoir (1923-32). Shown on site map of 1921. Also appears in photograph of area prior to start of work on dam in 1923. Probably erected at the same time, or shortly after, the construction of the engineers’ houses in 1915 (HB16/02/ 018). Primary Sources: 1. Original map and drawing in DOE Water Service, Westland House, Old Westland Rd, Belfast (cat. no. 1E1 and 2D36). Secondary Sources: 1. Belfast City & District Water Commissioners, ‘The Mourne Scheme’ (Belfast 1959).

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

A. Style B. Proportion C. Ornamentation H+. Alterations enhancing the building J. Setting K. Group value

Historic Interest

Z. Rarity X. Local Interest Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance

Evaluation

Of similar style to another corrugated metal house nearby (HB16/02/020). Corrugated metal buildings of this date are now scarce. In addition to this, the structure is of historical interest in its association with the construction of the Silent Valley reservoir. Its proximity to other water-related structures also gives it group value.

General Comments

Date of Survey

31 July 1997