Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB16/07/032

Address :
Kinghill Kinghill Road Cabra Newry Co Down BT34 5RB

Townland:
Kinghill

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Survey 2:
Record Only

Date of Listing:

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
Country House

Former Use
House

Conservation Area:
No

Industrial Archaeology:
No

Vernacular:
No

Thatched:
No

Monument:
No

Derelict:
Yes

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OS Map No:
254/6

IG Ref:
J2535 3272

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Owner Category

Private

Exterior Description And Setting

A mid 19th C country house with assorted outbuildings, all derelict, set in a mature demesne between Kinghill Road and Hilltown Road. A return on the house and assorted outbuildings are of 18th C date. The complex comprises: (1) main house, served by (2) gates and screen on Kinghill Road. Immediately west of the house is (3) Yard 1, and to south of house is (4) Yard 2. South of these two yards is (4) a large walled garden which incorporates a memorial. East of Yard 2 are successively (6) Yard 3, (7) Yard 4 and (8) Yard 5, the first two of which have outbuildings. In the area to front of the house is (9) a small covered well. South-east of the walled garden is a lime kiln (HB16/07/065). North of the house, a small masonry bridge leads across to a corn mill and kiln complex (HB16/07/064). A second drive runs SE to the lodge and gates on Hilltown Road (HB16/07/039). 1. House Two-storey/ three bay, with an additional pile at SE and returns to S and SW. Hipped natural slate roofs to front and rear piles. Two ashlar granite chimneys with moulded base and copings, both on front ridge at either side of central bay. On rear ridge (which is shorter than the main one) is a plain rendered chimney. Front and side elevations have box section cast iron gutters resting on a substantial moulded granite cornice; rest have semicircular gutters on advanced eaves course. For return roofs see later. Walls have V jointed ashlar quoins to façade and an advanced rendered basecourse. Front elevation faces N and has been wet dashed in post-WW2 period. Main entrance is set within an open aedicule porch abutting the central bay. A single bull-nosed granite step rises to the flagged granite porch floor. Four granite columns (paired to either side of the entrance) support its roof. These, together with single matching pilasters on main wall, support a moulded granite entablature. Within the porch the wall of the main block is smooth rendered and unpainted. The door and sidelights are gone, but door has been used to board up a ground floor window on left bay; it is four panelled and bolection moulded with bronze knocker and letterbox. Ground floor left and right bays each have a tall French window with two paned sidelights and transom light over (all post-war in detail), set in original openings which have an applied smooth render modern architrave. There is a single window to each first floor bay. Those to left and right match those to ground floor and the central window consists of two of modern casements with matching opening transoms. All have architraves as those to ground floor. Left elevation is lined lime render with quoins to right. The foundation course of rubble stonework is exposed. At ground floor left is a post-war steel casement window, three panes wide, with concrete cill. To right is a 1920's timber window consisting of a pair of casements, each with a two-paned transom over (cement rendered cill). First floor is blank. Rear elevation has, at right, the rear pile of the main block, and an older building at right angles at left; these two units are joined by a small linking block. The two bays on pile at right have render quoins to right corner only and wall is smooth lime rendered. On left bay, between ground and first floor, is a tall semicircular headed window with granite cill, serving the stairwell (all timber gone). At ground floor right is a pair of 1920s French windows, each with a small two-pane transom over. At first floor is a single 6/6 sliding sash window. To left of this unit, and slightly instepped therefrom, is the narrow two storey link block joining the main block with the return at left. It has a flat roof with cast iron rainwater goods and lime rendered granite rubble walls. There is a single window on each floor; both are brick dressed with granite cills; that to first floor is smaller. Advancing to its left is the perpendicular return. Rear return has a natural slate roof aligned N-S; gabled to south and hipped to north (where it abuts front pile). It has a lean-to extension abutting its W elevation, over which the main roof continues. Its S gable has rendered skews and plain granite kneelers. There is a chimney at each end of is ridge, detailed as those to façade. Walls are lined lime rendered and have an projecting eaves course. Its right cheek (E facing) has a wide modern top hung window to ground floor right; the wide granite cill suggests this was its original width. To first floor left is a similar taller window opening containing an inter-War triple casement window (each two paned) with matching transoms over. The S gable of this return, and that of the abutting lean-to, is blank and abutted to centre by a coachway (see below) which divides the rear of the house into Yards 1 and 2. Turning left corner of the returns S gable is the principal elevation of the lean-to which abuts all but the north end of the return’s left cheek. Its walls are wet lime dashed with a granite eaves course. There are three small ground floor openings along its west face. That to left is a boarded up window with irregularly dressed granite cill. To left of centre is a smaller shuttered opening (original iron strap hinges) with no cill. To right is a wider window with higher, finely dressed cill, which has three horizontal metal security bars over. At first floor there are two small window openings each containing a pair of timber casements. The left cheek of this lean-to has a broad-boarded door with timber sliding latch at ground floor. To the left of this cheek is the exposed face of the right cheek of the return (below the hipped roof). It has a paired casement window to ground floor and similar above; both have granite cills. The right elevation of the main block is blank and lined rendered. It is abutted to ground floor by a single storey/ two bay outbuilding; an internal door into the house suggests it was once internally linked to the house. This outbuilding has a pitched natural slate roof aligned W-E with a cement rendered red brick chimney on its W gable. Walls are lime dashed granite rubble. Its front (N) wall has a modern shed door set to left and is blank to right. Its gable to W is blank but for a boarded up window at ground floor left and is abutted by the wall of Yard 1. Its yard-facing wall (to S) has a window opening to left and a door to centre. 2. Gates and screen On Kinghill Road is a pair of carriage gates serving the now overgrown drive. There are the remains of a small planted demesne, and set in front lawn is a well (9). The gateway consists of a concave sweep of screen walling of smooth rendered random rubble with saddle backed overhanging granite copings. A pedestrian gate breaks its right side and there are two slender one-piece granite posts (gates gone). The main gates are carried on stout square one-piece finely dressed granite pillars resting on chamfered plinths. Each pillar has an incised panel to each face and a moulded frieze and cornice supporting a pyramidal coping. The gates are wrought iron with cast iron details; diagonal crosses form the dog bars and a similar band frames the top. Each vertical bar has a foliated spearhead and an applied moulding. 3. Yard 1 To SW of house is a small yard. It is enclosed to NE by the single storey outbuilding abutting the west gable of the house and to S by a high one-storey building. There are also several smaller buildings, all very ruinous, and all conjoined by a rubble stone wall c2.5m high. The outbuilding at S is a long one bay/ two storey structure. Roof is hipped natural slate with terracotta ridge tiles. Rainwater goods are cast iron and missing in part. All walls are of lime rendered random rubble. Main elevation faces N into yard and has two entrances. The first is to extreme left of façade and has granite stools to its timber frame; door gone. The second is to right of centre and has a lean-to rubble stone porch which rises three-quarters the height of the building. Roof is monopitched and natural slated with one-piece granite skews on moulded kneelers. The cheeks of this porch are blank and taper in from bottom to top. There are 14 narrow window openings to this elevation, arranged over three rooms; each opening is secured with three vertical wrought-iron bars. A ruinous one storey/ one bay outbuilding abuts at right. The left (E) gable has one small window at top over the trace of the monopitched roof of a one-storey/ one-bay shed at left, of which only the ruinous walls survive. The S elevation faces into the walled garden. It too has 14 openings similar to the N façade and also arranged over three rows. The wall of the walled garden abuts at left, blocking two of the windows. There is also a larger infilled opening to this elevation at extreme left. Right (W) gable has a finely dressed segmental-headed coach arch with dressed granite jambs and voussoirs. The interior of this building is a single space. The roof is carried on A-framed trusses and common rafters. Over the entrance at NE is a granite platform. Coachway with Yard 2 is of rubble granite with one-piece granite jambs and roughly dressed voussoirs forming its semi elliptical head. The keystone is dropped slightly to prevent doors or gates swinging both ways and the jambs are recessed to accommodate the gates being inset. The wall built up over the archway is partially collapsed. It abuts the gable of the house return at N, and a small ruinous two-storey/ two-bay rubble stone building at S. 4. Yard 2 This yard is immediately S of the house, between yards 1 and 3; the walled garden is to its S. It contains the remains of a raised flowerbed along boundary with walled garden, with granite steps up to a brick-headed gateway (with flat iron gate) into walled garden. 5. Walled garden The large walled garden is roughly square in plan and enclosed on all sides by 2.5m coursed granite rubble walls. It is accessed from Yard 2 through the aforementioned brick-headed gateway. It has a vehicle entrance at E end of its N boundary wall. In NE corner is a roofless single storey single bay building with brick chimney. Its S boundary wall has a brick dressed doorway and its W wall is abutted internal at its N end by an early 19th C memorial. There are no features now visible within the actual garden. The memorial consists of slate memorial slab set into the wall and below which is a granite bench. Cheeks are of lime-dashed rubble and terminate in finely dressed granite pillars which support an open gabled natural slate roof with similar dressing. The actual memorial tablet has been deliberately vandalised, and only its bottom panel remains. This reads “I SUBMIT AND LOOK FORWARD/ WITH FAITH M. A. Newell, 1817”. 6. Yard 3 A high rubble stone wall and three outbuildings enclose the third yard which is immediately E of Yard 2. There are three outbuildings, the principal one being at N. This is two-storey/ single-bay and aligned W-E. It has a pitched natural slate roof laid in diminishing courses and with two raised pyramidal louvred vents. Granite skews to left gable with kneeler stones. Walls are rendered random rubble with brick eaves course. All openings except doorway have red brick dressings. Principal elevation faces south into yard and has five G/F openings. Main entrance is fourth from left and has a projecting porch with three granite steps forming its roof. Walls are squared and coursed granite blocks. To left of door are three Gothic windows (that immediately left of door is partly collapsed); to right is a single similar window. All have roughly dressed granite cills. There are three first floor openings all with stepped brick dressings and granite cills. Middle one is aligned over the porch and served as a loading door; the others are louvred timber vents. The yard wall abuts at extreme left and extreme right of this elevation. Both walls have archways through. That in the left wall is of segmental profile and dressed with brick. That in right wall is segmental and made up of granite voussoirs. Left gable of this building is blank except for a window opening up at first floor centre. Rear elevation (to N) has, to ground floor, three infilled Gothic openings with brick dressings partly visible with a small rectangular ventilation hole to each. To first floor right is a larger opening. Many slates missing at left side of this roof pitch. A random rubble stone wall continues left of this elevation. To its middle is a large coach arch with segmental head of granite voussoirs. Stepped granite surround. To right of coach arch is a flat headed pedestrian entrance with stepped granite surrounds, No gates remain to either opening. Right gable of this building (to E) is unrendered and blank. There is, however, traces of at least one infilled opening. South of this building are two nondescript single-storey/ single-bay buildings with ruinous pitched natural slate roofs and random rubble walls. 7. Yard 4 This is formed between yards 3 and 5 and enables access from the front lawns of the house to the walled garden and field with lime kiln to SE. It is enclosed by a high rubble wall which has a large segmental headed coachway and pedestrian gateway on front wall and with access openings on remaining three sides. 8. Yard 5 This has two long two storey outbuildings – one to N and the other to S. Between the two is a small depression with masonry edging, possibly once a pond. There is also a small ruinous shed at NW. This yard is enclosed by rubble stone walls and is accessed by a gateway on the W boundary with Yard 4. The N building has a hipped natural slate roof, random rubble granite walls and brick eaves. Roof to right gable is partially collapsed. Principal elevation faces S into yard. At middle is a segmental headed archway that rises almost to eaves level; dressed granite voussoirs. To extreme left and right are single doorways and to immediate left of coachway is a third doorway (now collapsed). Between the coachway and door at right are five small vent openings at ground level. At first floor, to left and to right of coachway, are four rectangular openings (some containing the remains of louvred timber vents), and each with granite lintels and cills. Left gable (to W) is blank. Rear elevation (to N) is wet lime dashed and divided into two by a yard wall. Left half has three doors and assorted vents. Right half has two central doors (left one infilled). Each half has four first floor louvred timber vents (as those to façade). Rubble walls in a state of collapse enclose rear yards. Right (E) gable is blank. The outbuilding to S has a pitched natural slate roof with coursed granite rubble walls and brick eaves. Its front (N facing) elevation is symmetrical. There are three semi-elliptical headed coachway at ground floor, all with dressed granite voussoirs (left one infilled with concrete blockwork). To left and right of the central coachway are smaller doorways and between all openings are small vents. At first floor there are six equally spaced rectangular openings with granite cills and timber louvres. Left (E) gable has been rebuilt in concrete blockwork and has had a modern vehicle entrance inserted. Rear (S) elevation has seven arrow loop style vents at ground floor and five first floor openings (as those to façade) with timbre louvres. Right (W) gable is blank. The single storey / single bay outbuilding at NW has a pitched natural slate roof and rubble walls. Shallow segmental headed opening to E elevation. Remaining walls blank. 9. Well In grounds to front of house is a covered well approached down a short flight of stone steps and, edged with rounded fieldstones, the remains of a decorative planted surround.

Architects

Not Known

Historical Information

The HMBB survey card (1972) states that the demesne was created in Plantation times for the Newell family. However, no house is shown at Kinghill in Kennedy’s 1755 map. The Outlook states that John Newell was the owner in 1785, and on his death it was inherited by Captain John Newell R.N. who was an improving landlord. The Outlook states that one of the outbuildings (possibly part of the corn mill) was inscribed: “Amongst other valuable improvements this house and the bridge adjacent were erected by John Newell Esquire, a magistrate and Deputy Governor of this County who died 13th August 1816”. No trace of this inscription can now be found. The broken memorial tablet in the walled garden was to John William Newell who died on 28 March 1816, aged 10 years. It was inscribed (states the Outlook) “Also within five months this darling son was followed by the best of fathers, John Newell Esquire, who died 13th August, 1816 / I submit and look forward with faith. M.A. Newell, 1817”. “Mrs Newell, Kinghill” is listed in Bradshaw’s 1820 Directory. A slate gravestone in Hilltown Church of Ireland graveyard (HB16/07/001) states, “To the Memory of / James Newell Esqr. / (Second Son of the Late George Newell / of Kinghill County of Down Esqr.) / who departed this life / on the 16th November 1838 / Aged 78 years.” The unknown source (believed to be c.1850), states that, “King Hill, a family residence, situate on the estate of Mrs Francis Newell Barron of Dublin, and of Marlfield, in the County of Wexford. The Newell family is of English Lineage. The great grandfather of Mrs. Baron was a governor of County Down and died in the old castle of Newcastle. The father of this gentleman, Mr John Newel, was one of the six clerks in the Irish Court of Chancery, and the family have now been, for more than two hundred years, extensive land proprietors in this county, and formerly owners of estates in Armagh also. The father of Mrs Barron, a commander in the British navy (Captain R. N. Newell), was a magistrate and deputy-governor of the County of Down.” Hugh Dixon states that the small demesne was planted by Judge William Winstead Barron of Fethard, Co Tipperary. He had married Mary Francis St John Newell, in 1831. The house was known as Barron’s Lodge for some time after their marriage. Barron was County Court Judge for the Counties of Monaghan and Tyrone, and on retirement was appointed Justice of the Peace for County Down. He was succeeded by his son Pierce Newell Barron, and then by Edward Newell Barron, who was the last of this family to live in the house. The OS memoirs (1836) state, “Kinghill, a small two storey house the residence of William Winstead Newell Baron Esquire…is surrounded by a plantation consisting of larch, scotch firs, ash, oak.” This refers to the house cited in the c.1836 valuation as 47ft x 18ft 6in x 22ft and which is shown on the 1833 map in the position of the present house. All of the existing outbuildings and walled garden are shown on the 1st edition 6” OS map (1833), and their dimensions as given in the c.1836 valuation book correspond roughly with those existing today. The current house and gate lodge (HB16/07/039) and national school (HB16/07/041) appear on the 1859 OS map. A memorial altar rail in St John’s Church of Ireland Parish Church Hilltown (HB16/07/001) states, “AD Gloriam Dei in the Memory of beloved Mother Mary Frances Newell Barron who departed this Oct 16th 1878 erected by her loving daughters Emily and Charlotte 1886.” Hugh Dixon suggests that the current house, built in its present form some time between 1833 and 1859, may be by William Farrell or Thomas Duff. The rear return seems to be an earlier structure and seems to be part of a small two storey house which predated the existing one. He goes on to suggest that there may have been a designed landscape leading to an earthwork to the east of the mills. Valuation revision book notes significant drop in valuation from £45 to £7 in 1892, suggesting that it was abandoned. This is confirmed by Mr McPolin who states that the house was vacant c1900. The property was purchased by the McPolin family in the mid 1920s and the house occupied until the early 1960s. It was then a holiday home for a time, but fell into disrepair and was vacant by 1974. An 1974 HMBB slide shows the house prior to its dereliction. The front door is four panelled with margin paned side lights and similar transom over. It was vacant then, its lawn overgrown and full of grazing cows. Primary sources: 1. Kennedy’s map of Co Down, 1755 (PRONI: T1006/1). 2. Gravestone in St John’s (C of I) Graveyard Hilltown. 3. Altar Rail in St John’s (C of I) Church Hilltown. 4. T. Bradshaw “General Directory of Newry, Armagh etc.” (1820). 5. HMBB survey card dated 13/11/1972, in Environment & Heritage Service Hill Street Belfast. 6. HMBB survey slide dated 10/1974, in Environment & Heritage Service Hill Street Belfast. 7. 1st edition 6’’ OS map Down sheets 42 and 48 (1833) 8. 2nd edition 6’’ OS map Down sheets 42 and 48 (1859) 9. First valuation book, c.1836 (PRONI: VAL 1B/ 354, p.23-4). 10. Valuation revision book, 1838 (PRONI: VAL 12B/22/6). 11. Mr McPolin, former occupant. 12. Current owner 1999. Secondary Sources: 1. Letter from Hugh Dixon to Marion Meek dated 24/06/1985 in Northern Ireland Architectural Archive, 5-33 Hill Street, Belfast. 2. Article in “The Outlook” (local Rathfriland based newspaper) dated 16/08/1974. 3. Extract of an unknown publication discussing various places in South Down. Believed to be c.1850, p.365. Held in Warrenpoint Public Library.

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

Not listed

Historic Interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A substantial demesne comprising 18th C house, walled garden and outbuildings. House was substantially rebuilt in neo-classical style in mid 19th C.

General Comments

Date of Survey

18 March 1999