Shed (to E) at Finnebrogue estate farmyard, at 31 Killyleagh Road, Finnabrogue, Downpatrick, Co Down

Shed to the east at Finnebrogue estate farmyard, 31 Killyleagh Road, Finnabrogue, Downpatrick, County Down

This is a long single storey shed dating from between 1858 and 1900, built as part of the large Finnebrogue estate farm complex. The farmyard is located on the south-east side of Killyleagh Road, roughly two miles north of Downpatrick, with this shed positioned roughly to the centre of the grouping.

The shed's west side was originally open but was closed up with concrete blocks and timber boarding at some point prior to 1991, probably in the 1970s. The south end may have been truncated at the same time. The west elevation features a broad doorway opening roughly to the centre, presently covered in plastic sheeting. To the left and right of this doorway, areas which were formerly open are now closed up with concrete blocks with timber boarding above. To the far right is a section in random fieldstone rubble. The north gable is in rubble, whilst the south gable is in concrete blocks and timber boarding, much as the west elevation. The building appears to have been truncated at this end. The east elevation is in fieldstone rubble. The gabled roof is slated. To the west there is a small enclosure with metal railings and a metal gateway to the south end.

The Finnebrogue estate farmyard complex was built in various stages from perhaps the 1790s to the mid 20th century. The earliest extant plan, from the 1834 Ordnance Survey map, shows a long range of buildings straddling a boundary wall to the north-west side, a large stable to the south-east, the house further east, a smaller house to the south end of the yard, and a large threshing barn with horse walk to the east of the long range. The 1838 valuation graded some buildings 'A' (possibly built in the previous 25-30 years) and 'B' (possibly over thirty years old), indicating various periods of development. Industrial archaeologist Dr Fred Hammond suggested that much construction took place shortly after the refurbishing of Finnebrogue House itself around 1795-1800, with the intention of creating a 'model' farmyard. Between 1834 and 1858, the long north-west range was extended northwards, with a large cow shed, corn store with drying kiln, steam engine house and chimney grouping, and a single storey range to the south added to the site. Plans in the Perceval-Maxwell Papers show that the large 'cattle-feeding' grouping to the north-east was built around 1854. Between 1859 and 1900, a single storey stable block appeared to the far east side of the complex, along with this 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. 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 (now demolished), and two metal-framed Dutch barns were built just to the north of the large stables (also demolished). In the course of 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 appears to have fallen into disuse. 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.