23 Ballyskeagh Road, Ballyskeagh, Lisburn, Co Antrim, BT27 5SZ

This mid 18th century two-storey former lock keeper’s house is situated on the summit of a hillock at Ballyskeagh Bridge, a short distance SE of the lock (no.8) which it served on the Lagan Navigation. It is accessible only on foot, up a narrow path from the east end of the bridge. Pitched natural slate roof with small rebuilt brick chimneys on both gables. Half-round cast-iron gutters and down pipes. Walls of lime washed random rubble. There is a finely dressed sandstone string course between ground and first floor levels and also a sandstone eaves course under an ogee-profile sandstone cornice. The cornices continue along the base of the gable apexes as plain string courses. All openings have flat heads and replacement frames. The house is aligned NE-SW, with its principal elevation facing NW towards the lock. This façade is symmetrical and has a six-panel timber door to centre, with (replacement) stepped ashlar sandstone jambs and voussoired head of identical material (with projecting keystone). The door has a sandstone cill and is accessed up three concrete steps. It is set within a semicircular-headed recess, the curved section of which is at first floor level above the string course. The doorway is flanked to each side by a 6/6 timber sliding sash window. At first floor level, directly above these windows, are two 3/6 sash windows of diminished height. All the windows retain their original sandstone cills. The NE gable also has a semicircular headed recess to centre, identical to the façade but for the addition of a sandstone keystone to the crown of the arch. There is an 8/8 sash window with replacement sandstone cill to the ground floor. The SE (rear) elevation is not symmetrical. Although it has a keystoned semicircular headed recess to centre, with a 6/6 sash window, there is a smaller 6/6 sash to its left in what is probably a new opening. There is a 4/4 sash and 6/6 sash at left and right respectively to the first floor, again of diminished height. These windows have a mix of both original and new sandstone cills. There is no door to this elevation. The base of the wall projects outwards along this elevation. The SW elevation is identical to the NE one in every respect. Windows: Timber sliding sash replacements Doors: Paneled timber replacement Rainwater goods: Cast-iron half round replacements Roof: Natural slate replacement