Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB10/11/001 J

Address :
Stables for farm Horses 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
Stables

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 9982

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Owner Category

Private

Exterior Description And Setting

A detached two-storey outbuildng dating from c.1810, comprising part of an extensive famyard complex in the demesne of Holy Hill House (HB10/11/001A), a country house situated north-east of Strabane town. Rectangular on plan. Pitched natural slate roof with angled clay ridge tiles, all over brick eaves. Walling is lime rendered and limewashed random rubble. Windows are painted metal casements without sills. Principal elevation faces north and has central t&g sheeted opening to loft over a corrugated metal door; both have timber lintels and are partially formed in lime rendred brick. There is a 2/4 window to either side of door. East gable has painted timber loft door with brick relieving arch evident above, metal multi-paned lattice window on ground floor. South elevation is blank. West elevation is abutted by a modern farm building. Setting Holy Hill house and its associated outbuildings are set in the seventeenth century demsne of Holy Hill House (HB10/11/001A-L), comprising lawns, mature parkland and farmland, and situated on undulating land to the north-east of Strabane town. There is a cast-iron railing abutting to rear. Roof: Natural slate Walling: Whitewashed rubble and red-brick Windows: 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 I. Quality and survival of Interior J. Setting K. Group value

Historic Interest

Z. Rarity X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A vernacular outbuilding with limewashed rubblestone walls and natural slate roof, 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 group value with the enclosed farmyard at Holy Hill. With its original interior largely intact, despite losing part of its orignal setting with the addition of modern farm buildings, it makes a positive impact to the demesne and the outbuildings. It has group value with the other listed buildings in the Holy Hill estate.

General Comments

This record has been renumbered - previously HB10/11/001N

Date of Survey

13 September 2009