23 Knockany Road, Ballycarngannon, Lisburn, County Down, BT27 6YB

23 Knockany Road, Ballycarngannon

A two-storey three-bay direct-entry vernacular farmhouse pre-dating 1830, situated at the end of a private lane on the west side of a sharp bend on Knockany Road, approximately three miles south-west of Carryduff. The building is of local interest but is not considered suitable for listing.

The farmhouse originally appeared as a single-storey vernacular dwelling on the first edition Ordnance Survey map of 1834 for the townland of Ballycarngannon. A painting in the current owner's possession confirms this original single-storey form. The building was raised a level circa 1930, at which time the two-storey lean-to extension at the rear was also constructed. The rectangular plan form includes returns and extensions primarily dating from the 20th century. Most alterations reflect sympathetically the proportions, scale and details of the original building.

The principal south-west-facing elevation is asymmetrically arranged. The front entrance is located centrally and comprises a wide wind-breaker porch with the front door centrally positioned and a small casement window located on the right cheek. To the right of the porch is a single window, and to the left is a tri-partite timber casement window. The first floor comprises a central single window flanked by two tri-partite timber sliding sash windows. The building is roofed with pitched natural slate and clay ridge tiles. Red-brick chimneys with corbelled upper courses rise from the rough-cast rendered walling. Timber sliding sash windows with margin panes and horns (replaced circa 1990) feature masonry rectangular cills; some windows have been replaced with timber casement or uPVC. Rainwater goods are uPVC with cast-iron to the front porch.

The left gable is abutted by a one-and-a-half storey gable-ended whitewashed bay, which is further abutted on the south-west face by a one-and-a-half storey flat-roofed extension built circa 1970. This extension features a partially pitched roof to the south-east elevation with a pair of large dormers; timber casement windows are present to the front elevation with uPVC to the rear. A single-storey flat-roofed addition built circa 2008 abuts this extension, with a polycarbonate roof and uPVC windows.

The rear elevation is largely abutted by a two-storey lean-to roof extension pre-dating 1970, possibly dating to circa 1930, with a corrugated asbestos roof and timber casement and uPVC windows. Diminished timber casement ground and first floor windows are located left of the extension. The right gable is abutted by a one-and-a-half storey pitched roof bay with dormer window and single ground floor window. Circa 1980, this was extended with an L-shaped return incorporating a semi-circular projecting glazed bay with conical roof, adjoining outbuildings located south-east of the main building.

The outbuildings comprise a series of linear single and split-storey units with corrugated tin, asbestos and slate roofing. These were partially modified at the time of the adjoining extension; the roof timbers appear to be twentieth-century.

Historical Development

The site was occupied by Joseph McMinn, a local farmer, in 1861, when the farm was valued at £35 and let from the Marquis of Downshire according to Griffith's Valuation. McMinn also let two westernmost outbuildings (recorded as houses valued at £1 each) to tenants. The Ordnance Survey maps of 1834 and 1859 show the oblong farmhouse with a similar-sized outbuilding to its south-east and small offices to the west; over 100 metres further west were two additional outbuildings. Joseph McMinn resided at the site until his death in 1895, leaving the property to his widow Margaret. His will stipulated that the farm would pass to his eldest son George after seven years.

Census records show Margaret McMinn, a 60-year-old Presbyterian farmer, continued to live at the farm in 1901 with her sons George (30) and Hants (22) and daughter Jane (19). The Census Building Return of that year described the farmhouse as a second-class dwelling consisting of five rooms, roofed with slate and possessing seven farmbuildings including a stable, cow house, piggery and barn. By 1911, a coach house and potato house had been added to the out offices. The fourth edition Ordnance Survey map of 1919-20 shows that the westernmost outbuildings recorded in 1861 as two small dwellings had been taken down. Field research supports the assertion that the single-storied farmhouse was raised a level circa 1930, with the two-storey lean-to extension constructed at the same time, though the north-west and south-east elevations remained single-storied.

Little change occurred to the house until the current owners took possession in 1969 and began to extensively remodel the farmyard layout. The two-storey western extension to the house was built circa 1970, whilst a second extension including the round conservatory was added to the north-east elevation circa 1980. Modern corrugated iron farmbuildings to the south of the dwelling were added between 1920 and 1976, when they first appeared on the Ordnance Survey map. The most recent alteration was made in 2008 when a single-storey flat-roofed extension was added to the north-east elevation.

Setting

The building is secluded away from public view and largely enclosed by historic and modern structures. Gardens surround the north and east comprising lawns and vegetation backed by mature trees. The yard at the front comprises various agricultural and equestrian units with associated paddock, beyond which extends rural landscape.

The former vernacular cottage continues to be occupied and is in good state of repair, although the original character of the dwelling has inevitably been altered due to the extensive reconstruction of the site.