27 Benraw Road, Ballyward, Banbridge, Co Down, BT31 9TH

27 Benraw Road is a one-and-a-half-storey three-bay Victorian house built between 1840 and 1859, located on the Benraw Road approximately three miles northwest of Castlewellan in County Down. It is a good example of a small formal dwelling surviving in its original setting, retaining much of its original character, appearance, layout, and historic fabric and detailing.

The house has a rectangular plan form with a breakfront gable to the central bay. The pitched natural slate roof features clay ridge tiles, with box-eaves and plain timber barge boards. Rendered chimney stacks with moulded cornices support clay pots. Cast-iron rainwater goods complete the roofing details.

The walls are smooth rendered throughout. Windows are 6/6 timber sliding exposed box sash windows with margin-panes and horns, set on masonry cills. The principal elevation faces southwest and is symmetrically arranged. The central breakfront gable comprises a four-panelled raised and pointed timber door with bolection mouldings and a margin-paned rectangular overlight, flanked by narrow windows, with a segmental-headed window above. The bays either side contain single windows.

The left gable is asymmetrically arranged with a single ground floor window and two uniformly arranged first floor windows. The rear elevation is also asymmetrical, featuring a timber sheeted rear door located left of centre, with replacement casement picture windows to either side (the right one enlarged) and a sash window to the far right. Two fixed first floor lights with glazing bars are present. The right gable is asymmetrically arranged with all windows replaced in timber casement; a ground floor window is located right of centre with two uniformly arranged first floor windows above.

The property stands largely isolated and exposed on the side of a hill with panoramic views across the rural landscape. Partially rendered single-storey rubble masonry outbuildings lie to the north under separate ownership. Rubble masonry walls of roughly squared granite block with snecking piers feature wrought-iron gates. A small enclosed yard to the rear with an associated shed adjoins the rear of the dwelling. A garden addressing the front elevation is enclosed by rendered walls; entrance gates have been removed.

Historical Context

The house was constructed between 1833–34 and 1860, not appearing on the first edition Ordnance Survey map surveyed in 1833–34, though a one-storey outbuilding to the west had been built by then. By the second edition Ordnance Survey maps of 1860, the current one-and-a-half-storey house had been erected to the east of the original outbuilding, and an additional outbuilding to the northwest had also been completed.

Griffith's Valuation records of 1862 identify the Reverend John Henry, founding minister of Leitrim Presbyterian Meeting (100 metres to the west), as occupant of the site. However, William Herron's will dated 1856 indicates Reverend Henry was already residing in the townland of Benraw by that earlier date. Henry leased the house, valued at £9, from William Annesley, the 4th Earl of Annesley. He continued to reside there until his death in 1885. William H. McElroy then came into possession, purchasing the site from the Earl of Annesley in 1900 and simultaneously letting it to Reverend James Hagan, the incumbent minister of Leitrim Presbyterian Church.

The 1901 Census recorded Hagan (aged 36) residing alone in the house, which was classed as a 2nd class dwelling of eight rooms with associated farm offices including a stable, cow house, dairy and barn housed in the outbuildings to west and northwest. By 1911, Hagan had married Margaret (aged 30), and they lived at the house with their infant daughter. The house was by then known as Leitrim Presbyterian Church's Manse, captioned as such on the third edition Ordnance Survey map of 1901–02. The 1911 census building return noted the manse's outbuildings were then solely used as a stable and cowhouse. Reverend Hagan continued residing at the manse until 1929, though by his death in 1935 he had relocated to County Tyrone.

Leitrim Presbyterian Church was erected as a Seceder congregation in 1835, with the current church built shortly after Reverend John Henry's installation as minister on 29 March 1836. Henry served as minister for fifty years until his death in 1885.

No. 27 Benraw Road remained in use as Leitrim Presbyterian Church's manse until at least the First Survey in 1969. The house was listed in 1977 and is now occupied as a private dwelling, having recently undergone major renovation.

The extent of listing includes the house, walling, and gate piers.