'Granary' at Finnebrogue estate farmyard, at 31 Killyleagh Road, Finnabrogue, Downpatrick, Co Down

Granary at Finnebrogue Estate Farmyard

A two-storey farmyard building constructed from squared fieldstone rubble with a slated pyramidal roof, possibly built around 1800 as a granary. It is located at 31 Killyleagh Road, Finnabrogue, roughly two miles north of Downpatrick, on the south-east side of the road.

The building forms part of the now largely disused Finnebrogue estate farmyard, a large complex developed in various stages from approximately the 1790s to the mid-20th century. The granary is situated as part of a long row of structures on the north-west side of the complex, backing onto a high boundary wall. The building is square in plan.

The front (south-east) elevation features a broad doorway at ground floor level fitted with a dilapidated timber-sheeted door. To the left of this doorway is a small frameless window opening, heavily obscured by thick ivy growth that covers much of this elevation. To the right of the doorway is another similarly sized window opening fitted with a grill. At the centre of the first floor is a large window with dilapidated frame remains, partly engulfed by thick ivy growth. The north-east elevation is blank. The south-west elevation has a large arched opening at the upper level, now enlarged due to surrounding stone having fallen away. This elevation was originally abutted by a lower two-storey range, much of which has been demolished; outlines of the gabled roofs of the original neighbouring buildings remain visible on this and the north-east elevation. The north-west elevation forms part of the tall boundary wall to Killyleagh Road and is blank. An open range with a corrugated-metal lean-to roof is abutted to the north-east elevation. The pyramidal roof is slated, with some slates having fallen away.

The Finnebrogue estate farmyard appears in the Ordnance Survey map of 1834, which shows the long range of buildings straddling the boundary wall on the north-west side, a large stable to the south-east, the house further east, a smaller house at the south end of the yard, and a large threshing barn with horse walk to the east of the long range. The 1838 valuation grades some buildings as 'A' (possibly built in the previous 25 to 30 years) and 'B' (possibly over thirty years old), indicating various periods of development. Industrial archaeologist Dr Fred Hammond has suggested that much construction work may have occurred shortly after the refurbishing of Finnebrogue House itself, around 1795 to 1800, possibly as part of an intention to create a 'model' farmyard.

Between 1834 and 1858, map evidence shows the long north-west range was extended northwards, with a large cow shed, corn store (with drying kiln), steam engine house and chimney grouping—structures geared towards cattle feeding—built to the north-east. A single-storey range was also added to the south, opposite the large stable. Plans within the Perceval-Maxwell Papers at PRONI indicate the large 'cattle-feeding' grouping to the north-east was built around 1854. Between 1859 and 1900, a single-storey stable block appeared at the far east side of the complex, along with a single-storey shed to the immediate east of the threshing barn. A brick gate house was built to the north side of the south gateway, and a building (now demolished) was added to the very north-east corner of the yard. In the early 20th century, a long single-storey side was added to the north side of the old threshing barn, circular grain silos were erected to the north end of the yard (since demolished), and two metal-framed Dutch barns were built just north of the large stables (also demolished). During the 20th century, many buildings were adapted to new farm uses. Much of the long north-west range was demolished at some point and partly replaced with a corrugated-metal roofed lean-to structure. In the latter decades of the century, the complex fell into disuse.

The original function of the granary itself is unclear, listed in the 1838 valuation only as an 'office', though it appears in the 1834 Ordnance Survey map as part of the original complex. Dr Fred Hammond has noted its similarity to a granary at the Clandeboye estate farmyard. The building may latterly have been used to hang game. It is of industrial archaeological interest and has group value with the other listed buildings on the estate. It was sold to the present owner around 1990–91. Since then, the large house to the south-east has been refurbished, along with the smaller dwelling to the south-west. Some of the farm buildings are currently used as stores.