(Site of) Dutch barns at Finnebrogue estate farmyard, at 31 Killyleagh Road, Finnabrogue, Downpatrick, Co Down

Site of Dutch barns at Finnebrogue estate farmyard, Killyleagh Road, Finnabrogue, Downpatrick, County Down

This is the site of two large modern metal-framed Dutch barns, formerly located roughly in the centre of the Finnebrogue estate farmyard on the south-east side of Killyleagh Road, approximately two miles north of Downpatrick. The barns were demolished some time after 1991 and their site is now largely grass-covered. They formed part of a complex of farm buildings constructed in various stages from perhaps the 1790s to the mid 20th century.

The barns themselves appear to have been added to the farmyard in the mid 20th century and were still in use in late 1991. They are now completely cleared away.

The wider Finnebrogue estate farmyard has a complex development history. The earliest known plan, shown on the Ordnance Survey map of 1834, depicts much of 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 records some buildings as grade 'A' (possibly built in the previous 25-30 years) and others as grade 'B' (possibly over thirty years old), suggesting various periods of development. Industrial archaeologist Dr Fred Hammond proposed that much construction may have taken place shortly after the refurbishing of Finnebrogue House itself, around 1795-1800, possibly intending the creation of a model farmyard.

Between 1834 and 1858, the long north-west range was extended northwards and a large cow shed, corn store with drying kiln, steam engine house and chimney grouping were added to the north-east, all structures geared towards cattle feeding. A single-storey range was also added to the south. Plans in the Perceval-Maxwell Papers at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland 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, a single-storey shed was added immediately 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 wing was added to the north side of the old threshing barn, circular grain silos were erected to the north end of the yard (now demolished), and the two metal-framed Dutch barns were built just to the north of the large stables. Throughout 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. By the latter decades of the century the complex appears to have fallen into disuse. The estate was sold to its present owner around 1990-91. Since then the large house to the south-east and the smaller dwelling to the south-west have been refurbished, and some farm buildings are currently used as stores.

The site is of industrial archaeological interest.