Stables at Finnebrogue estate, off Finnebrogue Road, Finnabrogue, Downpatrick, Co Down, BT30 9AA

This large stable yard complex served Finnebrogue House and is arranged in an irregular quadrangle. The buildings are mainly two storey, constructed partly before 1834 and partly circa 1835-38, in stone and render with slated hipped roofs. The complex is situated a few metres east of Finnebrogue House itself, roughly one and a half miles north of Downpatrick. It includes a substantial dwelling (formerly the groom's house) which was modernised circa 1995-96.

The irregular quadrangle plan results from the south half of the long west wing being set on the squint. The west wing and north wing form a single L-shaped block, whilst the south wing and short and long east wings are stand-alone blocks not structurally integrated. The north, west and south wings all predate 1834, whilst the east wing was added between 1834 and 1858. The south wing is two storey; the west wing is two storey but with a loft level to the house section at its south end; the north and east wings are two storey but with large basement levels exposed to the east and north due to the drop in ground level on these sides. The yard itself is now covered by a neat lawn.

The complex is entered from the southwest corner, where tall wrought iron gates with vernacular fleur-de-lis heads to the railings span the gap between the south and west wings. Two large rounded pillars, roughcasted with rubble coping, flank the gateway.

The West Wing

The west wing is the longest block surrounding the yard. As noted, it is not straight: its north end joins the north wing at a right angle but its south half is set on a westward squint. The dwelling house occupies the south end, with a roof level slightly higher than the rest of the wing. It was modernised and extended circa 1995-96.

The east elevation (facing the yard) features a large single storey lean-to porch extension to the right side, rendered with a slated roof. The porch has a partly glazed timber sheeted door and modern timber frames with slate clad aprons to the windows on its east face, and modern high-level windows on the north and south faces following the roof pitch. To the left of the porch are two large ground floor windows with smooth cement render surrounds. Above these on the first floor are three much smaller unevenly spaced windows with similar frames and surrounds but with slate cladding above rather than as aprons. To the right of these windows, just above the porch roof, a small opening (probably once a window) is now filled with slate cladding. To the immediate right of the porch, where the roof level is lower, there is a large full height window opening with slate cladding as aprons on both floors. To its right is a small narrow ground floor window without surround or apron. Outside of the porch and window surrounds, this elevation is in random fieldstone rubble.

The rear (west) elevation of the dwelling house section is also in random rubble. On the left hand side is a small window with modern frame and surround. To its right is a door matching the front, with surround as window. On the taller section to the right are two full height window openings, similar to those on the front but narrower. At the far right on the first floor is a window similar in style to the full height openings. The south gable is also in rubble and has a single attic level window with pointed arch head. The gabled roof is slated with Velux windows to front and rear. To the south and centre the roof level is considerably higher, culminating in a small louvered ridge projection.

The north half of the west wing is still used as a store. Its east elevation is covered in roughcast render. On the left at ground floor level are three relatively small Georgian-paned sash windows (two over four, three over three, two over four panes). The second of these windows sits within what was originally a doorway, the stone architrave of which is still visible. To the right is a tall doorway with timber sheeted double door, eight-pane fanlight and cream brick dressings. To its right is a window arrangement matching that to the left, but without frame to the right hand opening (the architrave to this side is visible). On the first floor are two loft openings without doors, each directly in line with the former doorways. The rear (west) elevation is largely obscured by tree growth, but internal observation suggests there are no openings. The gabled roof is covered in what appears to be fibre cement slates.

The North Wing

The north wing is much shorter than that to the west. The south elevation (facing the yard) is finished in roughcast. At the far left is a doorway without door, with a loft door-like opening just above (also without door). To the right are two tall window openings, now boarded up. Between these are two smaller openings, one above the other: the lower opening retains the remains of a window frame, the upper opening is boarded up. To the right is another doorway (with timber sheeted door), with another loft-like opening just above (boarded up). On the first floor are three large squarish windows with Tudoresque mullioned and transomed frames with lattice panes to each light. The window to the left is only part glazed with the rest boarded.

The short east elevation is also finished in roughcast. At the centre of basement level (actually ground level) is a low doorway with shaped stone architrave (which appears 17th or early 18th century) and timber double doors. At the centre of the second (first) floor level is a group of three relatively small windows sharing the same sill. Only the right hand window retains the remains of a frame. Tree growth has obscured the west elevation, and the remains of other structures (as well as tree growth) have obscured much of the north elevation. However, on the second (first) floor of the north elevation there appear to be three windows matching those on the first floor south elevation, whilst covering the ground (basement) and first (ground) floor levels was once a large lean-to, most of which has now collapsed, exposing unrendered rubble walling at these levels. On the left hand side rises a tall chimneystack, now largely smothered in plant growth. The roof is hipped and slated.

The East Wing

The west (yard facing) elevation of the long east wing is finished in roughcast and has a more regular or planned appearance than any of the earlier wings. On the ground floor are eight evenly spaced doorways with timber sheeted doors; a ninth doorway has been converted into a window. Above each doorway (and the window) is a square opening; all these openings are now boarded up. At loft level above are four smaller openings, three louvered, one completely open. At this level also is a centrally located loft door partly set within a small gable.

The short north gable is also finished in roughcast and has a single small louvered opening to the left of centre at second floor level. The south gable appears to have once had a large lean-to structure against it, for one can see its outline and within this outline the façade is in unrendered rubble. The uppermost level is in roughcast and has a central window opening without frame.

The long east elevation is finished in roughcast. At ground basement level are a series of doorways and some windows, the former with timber sheeted double doors, the latter boarded up. On the first (ground) floor is a line of windows with the remains of Georgian-paned sash frames. At the far right is a broader window opening with circa 1930s steel frame. The gabled roof is slated.

The South Wing

The south wing is the smallest of all the wings, but is broader than the rest. Its north (yard facing) elevation is finished in roughcast. At the far right on the ground floor is a timber sheeted door. To its left are two narrow high level windows with small lattice panes flanking a large vehicle doorway with timber sheeted double door. On the first floor is a small window at the far left, then a much larger one, then another small window, all with modern frames. At the far right is a narrow window matching those at ground floor. The right hand (west) edge of this elevation is curved.

The west gable is finished in roughcast and has a small window to the left on the ground floor. The east gable is largely in random rubble with only the uppermost level of the façade in roughcast (there used to be a lean-to against this gable). The south elevation is largely in roughcast, with only a small portion of the uppermost part in unrendered rubble. At the far left on the ground floor is a window with modern frame. The gabled roof is slated.

Associated Buildings

Just to the south of the south wing is a boiler house sunken below ground level. It has a small doorway (now without door), approached from a hollow to the east. To the immediate north of the complex are the badly dilapidated remains of some single storey dairy and bakery buildings, with some former fowl houses to the east. To the north again, a long two storey outbuilding has been converted to a dwelling (with various modern windows with smooth cement surrounds, timber sheeted doors, slated gabled roof, Velux windows and so forth). To the immediate east of this is another two storey outbuilding which looks disused. There is an open lean-to to the east side of this outbuilding. Some ruined sheds lie to the north of this.