28 Ballynanny Road, Banbridge, Co Down, BT32 5JZ

28 Ballynanny Road is a symmetrical four-bay single-storey-with-attic rubble stone dwelling with lime render, predating 1833. It is located to the south side of Ballynanny Road west of Loughbrickland.

The building has a rectangular plan with a projecting gabled porch to the front and an L-shaped lean-to outshot to the rear. The pitched roof is covered in natural slate with blue and black angled ridge tiles, raised tiled verges, and four rendered chimneystacks. Two metal skylights are positioned on the southeast pitch, and timber bargeboards finish the gable of the porch. Plastic rainwater goods have been added.

The walling is limewashed lime render over rubble stone. Original timber sash windows are distributed throughout, mostly 6/6 panes with projecting stone sills. The principal southeast-facing elevation is symmetrically arranged with two windows on either side of the projecting gabled porch. The porch itself contains an original vertically-sheeted timber battened door within a simple timber architrave. The southwest gable has a 1/1 window at attic level without glazing. The northwest rear elevation features the L-shaped lean-to outshot at its centre, with a 2/4 window and 6/3 window to the left section and a blank projecting right section. Two 4/4 bi-partite windows flank the outshot, with a diminutive 2/2 window also to the right. The northeast gable has a diminutive attic window and a 6/6 window at ground floor right.

The house is situated at the end of a laneway to the south side of Ballynanny Road. To its front lies a concrete yard with a modern corrugated tin agricultural cattle-shed. The house sits slightly elevated on a grassy verge that rises steeply at the rear. Some rubble stone outbuildings remain to the south.

The building predates the first edition Ordnance Survey map of 1833 and is shown as a rectangular structure on much the same plan as it remains today, with outbuildings to the west and south now demolished. The setting is rural and has changed little since the early nineteenth century. The first and second editions of the maps show an orchard to the rear and tree-lined field boundaries. The second edition map of 1859 shows the addition of the porch to the front elevation. Griffith's Valuation of 1856-64 lists the property as the home of James Mulligan and notes it as a 'caretaker's house'. The farm comprised over 34 acres leased from the representatives of Francis Crossley, with buildings valued at £3 10 shillings.

Much historic fabric and detailing survives. This substantial farmhouse likely belonged to a holding of some standing, representing an important surviving example of vernacular building practices, distinguished by a development of formality reflecting improvements that suggest the owner's circumstances, perhaps as a land agent.

Note: The building has since been demolished.