54 Glen Road, Glenariff, Co.Antrim, BT44 0RF

54 Glen Road, Glenariff

A detached four-bay two-storey rendered farmhouse built circa 1850, located in the townland of Tamlaght on the south east side of Glen Road. The building is rectangular on plan, facing north-east, with its side gabled elevation to the north-west fronting directly onto the road.

The house is constructed with pebbledash rendered walling above a painted smooth rendered plinth course, with corner strips and a platband between floors. The pitched natural slate roof is finished with black clay ridge tiles and cement coping to both gable ends. Three ruled-and-lined cement rendered chimneystacks rise from the roof, and cast-iron rainwater goods are fitted throughout.

The north-east front elevation features informally laid-out square-headed window openings with smooth rendered surrounds and painted masonry sills. The ground floor contains timber sliding sash windows with 2/2 panes, whilst the first floor windows are single-pane. A central lean-to windbreaker entrance porch with a flush timber door projects from the front elevation, opening onto a small enclosed front area. The south-east gable elevation is largely inaccessible due to vegetation growth. The two-bay two-storey rear elevation follows the same detailing as the front, though it contains a single replacement hardwood casement window. The blind gabled north-west side elevation fronts directly onto the road and is abutted by a thick rendered boundary wall.

The site occupies a small parcel on the south east side of Glen Road, enclosed by a pebbledash rendered wall. A small front area is enclosed by original iron gates hung on pebbledash rendered square piers.

Historical Context

The farmhouse was not recorded on the first edition Ordnance Survey map of 1832 but appeared on the second edition map of 1857 as a simple rectangular-shaped structure. According to Griffith's Valuation of circa 1859, the property was initially valued at £1 and was leased by Edmund Cuppage, a local landowner resident at Mount Edwards House, to Reynold Delargy. Delargy occupied the farmhouse until circa 1879, when it passed to his relative Hugh Delargy. The Delargy family also acquired the neighbouring farmhouse at No. 52 Glen Road by circa 1871.

The 1901 Census of Ireland recorded Hugh Delargy as a local farmer residing at No. 54 Glen Road with his wife and son. The accompanying census building return described the farmhouse as a second-class slated dwelling comprising three rooms, with a stable, cow house and barn as its sole outbuildings. The third edition Ordnance Survey map of 1903 recorded no change to the layout of the farmhouse since the mid-19th century, but noted that the site's outbuildings were located on the opposite side of the road (now demolished and replaced with modern farm buildings).

Hugh Delargy remained at the property until circa 1923, when Alexander Delargy, the occupant of the neighbouring No. 52, took possession. The property's value was increased to £5 and 5 shillings under the First General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1936-57), which noted that Patrick Delargy, a seaman, had purchased the farmhouse outright from the Cuppage estate. Patrick Delargy died in 1962, but No. 54 Glen Road remained with the Delargy family until at least the end of the Second General Revaluation (1956-72), when the total rateable value of the farmhouse and its outbuildings stood at £6 and 10 shillings. At the time of the Second Survey field inspection, the property remained vacant and had fallen into a state of disrepair.