Steward’s House, Florida Manor, Florida Road, Kilmood, Killinchy, Co Down, BT23 6RU

Small, one and a half storey rubble built steward’s house with the Florida Manor estate, to the SW of the manor house itself. This house was probably built c.1820 as it shows much in common with other buildings with the Florida estate and Kilmood hamlet, all built by David Gordon at this time. In particular, the distinctive crow step gables of the house resemble that of the entrance bay on Kilmood court house. The house itself has been derelict for some time and partly covered in greenery. Front W facade has a slightly right of centre gabled entrance porch which is obviously a late Victorian/Edwardian addition, having brick construction and finial to the gable. The entrance is located on its N face and consists of a panelled door with two pane sidelights. Small boarded up window to S face of porch. To the left of the porch is a small window opening with the remains of a casement frame. To the right of the porch is a small window opening, now boarded. The S gable has a small window opening to the ground floor and one at attic level. The attic level window has an odd ‘trefoil’ relieving arch over (in brick). Attached at ground level to the right hand side of this gable is a small gabled extension, with the remains of a large glazed opening to the front (W) and a doorway to the S. The rear facade of the extension appears to be partly patched in breeze block. The N gable appears to be blank. Both gables have large, distinctive crow steps. To the main rear facade there is a small window to the right whilst at the left is a brick built lean to ‘store’ extension. The facade is un-rendered, though the later porch to the front and rear lean to appear to have been harled at some point. The main roof is gabled and covered in Bangor blue slates, with three small skylights to rear. Tall rendered chimney stack at eaves to rear. This house is one of a series of ‘gothick’ buildings constructed by David Gordon in the Kilmood area in c.1820-22.