Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB10/11/001 H

Address :
Byres 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:
H3835 9982

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Owner Category

Private

Exterior Description And Setting

A long single-storey multi-bay range of outbuildings comprising four byres for pigs and a turnip house, dating from c.1810 and forming part of an extensive farm complex in the grounds of Holy Hill House (HB10/11/001A-L), a country house situated north-east of Strabane town. Rectangular on plan, with turnip house on a skew at north projecting beyond byre range at its west elevation. Pitched roof, natural slated roof to all but south end which has asbestos slates; brick eaves. Decorative finial to north apex. Pitched corrugated metal roof to turnip house. Limewashed rubble stone walling with some red brick and painted contrasting base course. Windows are replacement timber and metal casements. West elevation is asymmetrical with five windows, four doors and a through-passage to left end where the building abuts the stable range (HB10/11/001G). Doors on this elevation are t&g sheeted with the exception of that to left which comprises six shaped panels and has beaded muntin (originally an internal door from the main house); t&g sheeted timber secondary door over. The turnip house at north has a door at the south elevation and is abutted at west by a modern farm building. North elevation is blank. East elevation faces into the farmyard and has three irregularly spaced windows. Setting Set on the west of the farmyard at Holy Hill house. This building and its associated outbuildings are set within the demsene of Holy Hill (HB10/11/001A), with lawns, mature parkland and farmland, situated on undulating land to the north-east of Strabane town Roof: Natural slate Walling: Whitewashed rubble Windows: Timber and metal framed casements Rainwater goods: None

Architects

Not Known

Historical Information

This outbuilding is shown 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. 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. The Holy Hill estate is likely 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 likely established after 1779. Under the ownership of his nephew James , J.P., from 1804-1865, the estate was greatly cultivated and many estate buildings were erected, including the walled garden. 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. 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.” Particular mention is made of turnips which “have long been cultivated with much success by Mr. Sinclair”. (p.119, 121) From inspection, it seems likely that the farmyard was largely constructed in a single phase of improvement, with some later additions. While their vernacular characteristics make them hard to date with certainty, their appearance suggests an early nineteenth century date. This is supported by the OS Memoirs record of the agricultural efficiencies put in place by James Sinclair, who resided from the period beginning 1804. 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 J. Setting K. Group value

Historic Interest

Z. Rarity X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A vernacular 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. Set within the farmyard enclosure, it forms the western wing of the yard and makes a positive impact to the demesne and the outbuildings. As a group the buildings reflect the development of farming techniques necessary for the efficient running of a large estate. It has group value with the other listed buildings in the Holy Hill estate.

General Comments

Previously recorded as part of HB10/11/001G. This record is now updated and recorded separately.

Date of Survey

13 September 2009