Lowry's Farm, 26 Orlock Road, Groomsport, Co Down, BT19 6LW

A one-and-a-half-storey three-bay gabled vernacular house with group of associated outbuildings; built c.1858 and earlier vernacular house built c.1800, located to the north side of Orlock Road, between Groomsport and Donaghadee. Rectangular on plan with projecting porch to front and small out-shot to rear. Pitched natural slate roof with terracotta ridge tiles; four regularly spaced rendered chimneystacks having tall terracotta pots. Decorative terracotta ridge tiles to porch; decorative barge-boards to gables and porch. Cast-iron half round rainwater goods on projecting eaves. Walling is lime-rendered. Windows are obscured with strand board; one 6/6 timber sliding sash to attic of south gable. The principal elevation faces east and is symmetrically arranged with single window to either side of projecting gabled porch. Porch has boarded window opening to gable; exposed section to left is original entrance; exposed section to right is blank. The south elevation has window to centre at ground floor and first floor. The west (rear) elevation is abutted by a small out-shot to left; to right are two window openings. The north elevation has single window to first floor; abutted to right at ground floor by adjoining flat-roof extensions (of no interest). Outbuildings The former vernacular dwelling on the site dates from c.1800 and is a single-storey three-bay direct entry dwelling facing south with lime rendered walls and corrugated iron roof. House comprises central room with open hearth and rooms to either end; access to loft. The interior has open hearth, lime plastered walls and floor, wall plate built up with brick, and corrugated metal roof. It is connected to the main house by a series of more recent outbuildings (of no interest). To the east of this is a series of slated outbuildings arranged in a u-shape, including barn with stepped ridges and partial Tullycavey slate roof, external steps, brick chimney and original timber-framed windows and doors; single-storey-with-attic rubble stone and lime rendered storage house; more recent brick and cement render two-storey store with external steps. Setting The house is set in almost four acres of land, located down a private lane, surrounded by farmland and looking out towards the Copeland Islands. Large paddock to north; outbuildings and former direct-entry vernacular house create u-shape to north-east of main house. Associated farmland enclosed by mature hedgerow and wire fence. Rubble stone and lime rendered wall with square gate piers having pyramidal caps to front of house. Decorative wrought-iron field gate directly opposite house and to north at entrance to outbuildings. Roof: Natural slate Walling: Lime render Windows: Timber (boarded up) RWG: Cast-iron