Stables at Cairndhu, Ballygalley, Larne, Co Antrim

Stables at Cairndhu, Ballygalley, Larne, County Antrim

This is a soundly-built example of late Victorian outbuildings, built in 1898 and attributable to the important local architect Samuel P. Close. It stands as a significant element within the Cairndhu estate, built to serve the country house of the same name and date.

The building is a two-storey structure of asymmetrical layout, constructed of regular coursed blackstone rubble with ashlar sandstone quoins and dressings. It is arranged around an enclosed courtyard, with its main entrance facing east.

The entrance front comprises an L-shaped block. Centrally placed is a segmental-arched coachway with an ocular opening over it contained within a small gable. This is flanked on each side by rectangular windows of various sizes. The windows were originally vertically hung timber sliding sashes, 2 over 2 with horns in square heads, though some are now boarded up. A canted oriel window to the first floor contains casements and breaks the eaves line with a lead hipped roof. The main entrance door is ledged timber but partially boarded up. The roof is hipped and slated in Bangor blue in regular courses, with terracotta ridge tiles. Sandstone chimneys serve each block and a moulded cornice runs along the front. Guttering and downpipes include modern PVC sections.

Projecting forward at the right-hand side is a wing containing two coach entrances to the ground floor, with original ledged timber doors. Above each is a rectangular window, now 1 over 1 replacements for original 2 over 2 sashes. The end wall of this front wing has similar walling, with a ground floor window now boarded up and a rectangular doorway.

The south elevation of the entrance block comprises a two-storey end wall with a canted bay window to the ground floor containing casements and a lead-covered hipped roof. A small rectangular window to the first floor is a later insertion lacking sandstone dressings. Extending to the left is a single-storey range enclosing the courtyard. This has the same walling with a painted wooden fascia above a band of smooth cement render. Five small rectangular window openings are dressed with chamfered red sandstone and contain original Victorian metal grilles, though one is now blocked up by cement. A larger rectangular window opening to the right contains wooden louvres, a rounded red brick cill, and cement surrounds.

The north elevation comprises two blocks with the roof line stepping up the slight slope. The roofs are slated as before, hipped at each end, with a rendered chimney to the gable at the break. The walling is as described previously, except red brick is used for some window dressings and an entirely brick-built gabled outshot carried on semi-circular brick arches. Later cement render, pebble-dashed, covers the upper portion of the western range. Near the eastern end is a rectangular projection of similar walling to the main block, with a lean-to slated roof with rooflight.

The west elevation of the building is largely hidden by bushes and trees. It comprises a single-storey range to the rear elevation, now in derelict condition with its front wall and roof missing, which forms the boundary wall of the courtyard.

The building stands in a rural setting within the grounds of the large country house Cairndhu, which are laid out with lawns and mature trees. It is approached by a tarmac driveway that winds around from the main house, which stands to the east, downhill from the stables but well within view of them. Immediately to the east of the stables is a single-storey red brick building known as the petrol house, with a gabled roof of Bangor blue slates in regular courses, timber barge boards with tapered finials, and a sandstone oculus to a gablet over the doorway.