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Heritage at Risk(v1.0)
Cabin Hill Preparatory School Upper Newtownards Road Belfast Co Down BT4 3HS


HB Ref No:
HB26/13/006 A

Address
Cabin Hill Preparatory School Upper Newtownards Road Belfast Co Down BT4 3HS

Townland:
Ballycloghan

Status:
Currently at Risk

Listing Grade:
B2


HARNI Number:
HARNI 26/13/004

Conservation Area:
No

Condition:
Fair

Industrial Archeology:
No

Occupancy:
Vacant

Vernacular:
No

Degree of Risk:
Moderate

Thatched:
No

Availability:
Unknown

Monument:
No

Current Building Use:
School

Derelict:
No


Description

Cabin Hill Preparatory School is a B2 listed extended school of two to four storeys. It was built around an earlier Tudor-revival house of 1860 with additions in 1903-5. To the rear is a four-storey rendered extension added by the school in 1946 with adjacent brick extension of 1980. There appears to have been a building here in the late 1700s with Cabin Hill referring to a cabin that may have been used partially through the year as a country retreat. It was originally occupied by Samuel and Martha McTier before passing to solicitor John Dinnen in 1852. It was Dinnen who built the sandstone Tudor-revival villa as its valuation rises significantly in the 1860s. The house was leased to Sir James Craig in the early 1920s and was the location of some cabinet meetings. The house was then sold by McMordie to Campbell College in 1924-5. The buildings are now vacant. With such a unique history from use as a country retreat to holding cabinet meetings there is substantial historic value to the site. Currently the building is boarded up and secured. In 2021 the site was sold and there are current plans to restore and convert the preparatory school to twelve apartments including the removal of the inappropriate extensions. Re-use and regular maintenance will improve prospects for the building and deter continued vandalism. Refs- LA04/2018/2863/F, Building Database HB26/13/006 A,