Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB10/11/001 D

Address :
Barn with cellars at Holy Hill House, 78 Ballee Road, Artigarvan, Strabane, Co Tyrone BT82 0AA

Townland:
Hollyhill

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Survey 2:
B1

Date of Listing:
19/09/1986 00:00:00

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
Outbuildings

Former Use
Outbuildings

Conservation Area:
No

Industrial Archaeology:
No

Vernacular:
No

Thatched:
No

Monument:
No

Derelict:
No

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OS Map No:
60-13

IG Ref:
H3837 9985

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Owner Category

Private

Exterior Description And Setting

Two-storey multi-bay range of outbuildings dating from c.1810, forming part of an east-west range with the yardsman's house (HB10/11/001C) located in the centre and part of the enclosed farmyard to Holy Hill House (HB10/11/001A-L), a country house with demesne situated north-east of Strabane town. Rectangular on plan, facing south. Pitched natural slate roof laid in diminishing courses; cast-iron rainwater goods to south, painted aluminium to north, downpipe approximately marks the division between the barn and yardman's house. Limewashed rubblestone walls over painted contrasting base course. Openings are pained t&g sheeted, unless otherwise stated. The principal elevation faces south and has four ventilation slits along the loft storey. At left, four concrete steps lead to a door. There are three small painted camber-headed timber doors at ground level. Central square-headed double painted timber doors with timber and iron lintels lead to the coach house. East gable is abutted by the yardsman's house (HB10/11/001C). North elevation has three ventilation slits at loft storey level and one timber-framed window with mesh. Ground floor has two projecting gabled porches with pitched natural slate roofs; each has a door with timber lintel and a further camber-headed door is located between the porches. Modern single-storey lean-to milk house extension to left has aluminium rainwater goods. The right gable is blank and has the remains of lime pit. The building occupies a farmyard
setting to west of the main house. Concrete farmyard and associated outbuildings are set within a demesne consisting of parkland, pasture and gardens. Roof: Pitched with diminishing natural slate Walling: Whitewashed rubble Windows: Ventilation loops, otherwise one timber framed opening with mesh. Rainwater goods: Cast iron and painted aluminium U-profile

Architects

Not Known

Historical Information

This outbuilding is present on all three editions of the OS map (1833, 1854, 1905). Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64) lists the following outbuildings with measurements: two dairies, a granary house, a coach house &c, a fowl house, a boiler shed, two stables, a shed, a cow house and two offices. According to secondary sources, Holy Hill estate appears to have been cultivated and improved and the house enlarged in the 1730s and 1760s, by John Sinclair, owner from 1718 until 1770. During the ownership (1770-1804) of his son, George, who had been apprenticed as a linen merchant, the estate was cultivated and a mill was established after 1779. Under the ownership of his nephew James , J.P., from 1804-1865, the estate was again cultivated and many estate buildings were erected, including the walled garden. (The Sinclairs of Holy Hill, Bready and District Ulster-Scots Development Association) While James’ son William, a former High Sheriff in Co. Donegal in 1854 who became Deputy Lieutenant of Tyrone in 1876, also probably improved the estate until his death in 1896, it is highly likely that subsequent owners did not embark on any new projects. John Sinclair commissioned William Starrat in 1736 to draw up a map of the estate, which unfortunately omitted all buildings. An estate map in the Abercorn papers, dated 1804, captions “Holly Hill George Sinclair Esq.” but again omits any buildings. In 1810, George’s nephew, James, planted “1,412 spruce firs, 62 Scotch firs, 78 ‘silver and balm of Gilead’ firs, 1,520 larches, 1,230 ashes, 171 horn beams, 273 birches, 870 alders, 1,041 beeches and 509 oaks.” OS Memoirs are lavish in their praise of “Mr. [James] Sinclair,…the only resident proprietor [in the parish of Leckpatrick] and his “skill in every department of agriculture [which] enabled him to suggest the most effectual means of improvement, whilst his liberality induced him to supply in a great measure the means. The woods of Holyhill yielded timber for [his tenants’] houses and farming implements and its nurseries provided quicks and trees for their gardens and fences, to ask for which was as great a source of satisfaction to the donor as to receive it would have been to others. It would afford a good practical lesson to many of our proprietors to visit these newly formed farms. It would suggest, since so much has been done where climate and soil were to be contended with, what might not be done under more favourable circumstances.” (p119) “Mr. Sinclair gets 6 guineas an acre for his turf bog, but his tenants are not charged with it…Turnips have long been cultivated with much success by Mr. Sinclair…The value of irrigation has been satisfactorily evinced…at Holyhill…the happy effects of the good examples set by our solitary resident proprietor and the resident incumbent who display both skill and taste for farming, are daily evinced in the adoption of their principles by their neighbours…Mr. Sinclair and Mr. Brownlow maintain each a number of labourers. Holyhill mountain affords a good deal of labour in providing turf for Strabane and Lifford and their neighbourhoods…” (p.121) “Clay has been burned by Mr Sinclair…for manure…Mr Sinclair and Mr Brownlow have watered their meadows with great success…Few oxen have been used in husbandry and these only by Mr Sinclair.” (p.122) According to the current owner, the four small doors were used for putting potatoes in the cellar for storage. The outbuildings are likely to date from one of the major periods of development carried out by the Sinclair famiily, although their vernacular characteristics make them difficult to date with certainty. References: Primary Sources 1. PRONI T.1652 – Sir Josias Bodley’s plantation maps of all baronies in Co Tyrone 2. PRONI T/371/H – Civil Survey Barony of Strabane (1655-67) 3. PRONI D597/4/1 Petty’s Down Survey maps (c1655-75) 4. PRONI D1854/1/23 – Book of Survey and Distribution (c.1680) 5. PRONI D623/D/1/6 – Abercorn papers – map of Gortcrone c1720-1750 6. PRONI D623/A/15/441 – Abercorn Papers – Letter from Abercorn to Nisbitt (13 Jan 1756) 7. PRONI T2541/1A/1/4/89 – Letter from Sinclair to Abercorn (1757) 8. PRONI D623/A/43/147 – Abercorn papers – letter from Mrs Elizabeth Sinclair to Abercorn (1779) 9. PRONI D623/D/1/22 – Abercorn papers – map of manor of Cloghogle (Jan 1804) 10. PRONI OS/6/6/5/1-3 – Ordnance Survey Maps (1833, 1854, 1905) 12. PRONI VAL/1/A/6/5 – Townland Valuation Map(1828-40) 13. PRONI VAL/1/B/640 – Townland Valuation Records (1828-40) 14. PRONI VAL/2/A/6/5 – Griffith’s Valuation Map (1856-64) 15. PRONI VAL/2/B/6/43B – Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64) 16. PRONI VAL/12/B/42/22A-F – Annual Revision Records (1860-1925) Secondary Sources 1. Bence-Jones, Mark. “A Guide to Irish Country Houses.” Second Revised Edition. London: Constable and Robinson, 1990. 2. Bradley, J, etc. “The Fair River Valley – Strabane Through the Ages.” Belfast: Ulster Historical Foundation, 2000 3. Day, A. and P. McWilliams, eds. “OS Memoirs of Ireland, Parishes of County Tyrone I, 1821, 1823, 1833-36, Vol . 5.” Belfast: Institute of Irish Studies, 1990. 4. Day, A. and P. McWilliams, eds. “OS Memoirs of Ireland, Parishes of County Tyrone II, 1825, 1833-5, 1840, Vol. 20.” Belfast: Institute of Irish Studies, 1990. 5. Diocesan Histories 6. Dooher, J. “Commit They Work to God: The History and Times of the Sinclairs of Hollyhill.” In Concordia (1995). Cited in “The Sinclairs of Holy Hill.” Chap. In “Bready Ancestry: Bready and District Ulster-Scots Development Association. Http://www/breadyancestry.com/index.ph?id=35. Accessed 17 March 2009. 7. Hutchinson, W. R. “Tyrone Precinct: A History of the Plantation Settlement of Dungannon and Mountjoy to Modern Times. Belfast: W. Erskine Mayne, Ltd., 1951.” 8. Lewis, Samuel. “A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, Comprising the Several Counties, Cities, Boroughs, Corporate, Market, and Post Towns, Parishes, and Villages, With Historical and Statistical Descriptions; Embellished with Engravings of the Arms of the Cities, Bishopricks, Corporate Towns, and Boroughs; Of the Seals of the Several Municipal Corporations.” London: S. Lewis & Co., 1837 9. Reid, Thomas. Travels in Ireland in the Year 1822, Exhibiting Brief Sketches of Moral, Physical, and Political State of the Country: With Reflections of the Best Means of Improving Its Condition. London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, 1823. 10. Roulston, William J. “The Parishes of Leckpatrick and Dunnalong: Their Place in History.” Strabane, Co. Tyrone: Self-published, 2000. 11. Rowan, Alistair. “North West Ulster: Londonderry, Donegal, Fermanagh, and Tyrone.” Buildings of Ireland Series. Dublin: Penguin Books, 1979. 12. Sinclair Monument, photo in Dillon, Charles and Henry A. Jefferies, ed. “Tyrone: History and Society.” Templeogue, Dublin: Geography Publications, 2000. 13. “The Sinclairs of Holy Hill.” Chap. In “Bready Ancestry: Bready and District Ulster-Scots Development Association. Http://www/breadyancestry.com/index.ph?id=35. Accessed 17 March 2009. 14. “Our Love Families.” Http://www.love-genealogy.com/love-genealogy-generation-07.htm. Accessed 2 March 2009. 15. Young, Robert Magill. “Belfast and the Province of Ulster in the Twentieth Century.” Pike's New Century Series, ed. W. T. Pike. Brighton: W. T. Pike, 1909. 16. “The Parish of Leckpatrick: A Brief History.” Undated packet. 17. “The Church,” “Monuments,” “The Parish,” In “The Area.” “Church of Ireland Church of St. Patrick, Parish of Leckpatrick.”

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

A. Style B. Proportion C. Ornamentation D. Plan Form I. Quality and survival of Interior J. Setting K. Group value

Historic Interest

X. Local Interest Z. Rarity

Evaluation

Awell detailed outbuilding with limewashed rubblestone walls and pitched natural slate roofs, part of an extensive farm complex located within the demsene of Holy Hill, which has Plantation origins(HB10/11/001A-L). The building retains its vernacular style and proportions and has original cellars with lobbied accesses and vaulted ceilings. Attached to the yardman's house (HB10/11/001C) in the centre of the farmyard group, it has group value with the other listed structures at Holyu Hill. The outbuildings as a group reflect the development of farming techniques necessary for the efficient running of a large estate.

General Comments

This record has been renumbered as part of a group - previously HB10/11/001G

Date of Survey

19 March 2009