Stableyard, Ballywalter Park, Springvale, Ballywalter, Newtownards, Co. Down, BT22 2PP

Stableyard at Ballywalter Park

This is a long rubble-built stable block constructed between 1803 and 1810, serving Ballywalter Park House. It is believed to be the only structure within the old Springvale estate that survives in its pre-1846 form.

The building is rectangular in plan, predominantly two storeys high, with a mainly gabled roof of Bangor blue slate. Its distinctive composition comprises a tall tower-like section in the centre with a hipped pyramidal roof, flanked by slightly taller house-like sections at either end, each topped with rendered chimney stacks and a decorative bell cote (the western gable includes one).

The south elevation displays considerable architectural detail. Each end section features two large semicircular-headed coach arches with smooth stone dressings and plain sheeted timber double doors at ground floor level, with three sash windows having horizontal astragals to the first floor. The central tower section contains a ground floor pedestrian door with smooth stone dressings and simple keystone, flanked by sash windows with window-like openings beneath them. A large louvred roundel opening sits directly above the doorway, with a stable door featuring leaded glazing in its top half positioned at high level above that. The lower sections flanking the tower and the two outer sections each have regularly spaced pedestrian doors with small loft doors directly above, and mostly sash-framed window openings with some louvred alternatives. The leftmost western pedestrian door is now partly blocked with a small six-pane window in its upper half, though its surround remains intact. Cast iron rainwater goods are present throughout.

The north elevation has fewer and more irregularly spaced openings, comprising mainly windows, some upper floor loft doors, and small ventilation openings. Several windows on the western side retain Georgian panes.

The stableyard is attached to a high rubble wall on its west end, separating it from the demesne proper at a significantly higher ground level. A further high rubble wall with two sturdy gate pillars is attached to the east end, though no gates remain.

The building was constructed while George Matthews, the owner of Springvale House at that time, was renovating and extending the house itself. Although other estate buildings, particularly the main house, underwent significant alterations during the 1840s following Andrew Mulholland's purchase of the property, the stableyard has remained largely unaltered. The listing extent includes the wood shed and dog kennels attached to the main building.