Farmhouse adjacent to 14 Drumantine Hill Drumantine Newry Co. Down BT34 1TN

An enclosed vernacular farmyard complex containing a three-bay one and a half storey vernacular dwelling of developed vernacular type, located north of Drumantine Hill and accessed via a long laneway which provides entry to the courtyard. Though no longer in use, the house retains its historic farmyard setting and provides an insight into the way of life of farmers with small holdings in earlier times, and of the distinctive vernacular house types and styles of vernacular farmyard layout in rural Armagh.

The principal dwelling dates from around 1890, retaining a strong vernacular quality with survival of interior detail and plan form. A dwelling house of vernacular proportions occupied the site from at least 1834 as shown on the first edition Ordnance Survey map, and had been extended to the north by 1860. The current house represents a rebuild undertaken around 1890 by James McCullagh, who took over the property circa 1880. The valuation books record a 'new house' in 1892, with the rebuild depicted on the third edition Ordnance Survey map of 1903. Census records from 1901 show farmer James McCullagh (aged 60) resident with his wife Maggie and seven children, occupying a house with three windows to the front elevation and six rooms. The property subsequently passed to William Clarke and then to his widow Sarah Jane Clarke, who became outright owner under the Land Purchase Acts in 1922 and remained resident until her death in 1953.

The south-facing principal elevation exhibits a natural slate pitched roof with flush verges and terracotta ridge tiles, with two reduced brick-built chimneys centrally located and equidistant on the ridge line. The walls are exposed coursed rubble stone with a corbelled brick course at eaves level and dressed stone quoins to all external corners. Three equally spaced windows, each three over three painted sliding sash windows with crescent topped raised and painted plaster bands with equally placed painted quoins either side of all apertures, are arranged across the elevation. A panelled painted timber door with glazed overlight is positioned to the left of the central window. Natural stone cills are present throughout, and there is no evidence of rainwater goods.

The north-facing rear elevation has a natural slate roof with a metal framed centrally located roof light. Below this is a rear door opening with panelled painted timber frame, and a single three over three painted sliding sash window with crescent topped raised and painted plaster band and equally placed painted quoins either side.

The west gable elevation has a centrally positioned three over three painted sliding sash window at ground floor level and a six over six painted sliding sash window directly above. The east elevation is similarly fenestrated with centrally positioned three over three painted sliding sash windows at both ground and first floor levels.

An outbuilding to the north of the dwelling is a four-bay single storey construction with natural slate pitched roof and lime washed rubble stone walls. Vertically sheeted painted double doors are positioned immediately to the left of centre on the front north elevation, with a painted timber lintel above and a two over two painted sliding sash semi-boarded window beyond. To the right of centre are two timber framed vertically sheeted doors, the left hand door featuring a half door. The rear south elevation is largely obscured by undergrowth, but the outline of two square former window openings is evident to the right hand side. The east gable has a high level square frameless window aperture. The west elevation is blank. There is no evidence of rainwater goods or window cills.

The interior of the outbuilding has an exposed timber roof structure with the underside of slates exposed. The floor is concrete finish with exposed lime washed rubble walls.

The complex, which pre-dates the Ordnance Survey map of 1834, represents a good example of a relatively untouched vernacular farmyard complex with a distinct and well proportioned stone dwelling in neat coursed local stone. According to Griffith's Valuation of 1861, the property was the residence of James Jones, leased from Arthur C Innes of nearby Drumantine House, and valued at £2. By 1860 the dwelling house had been extended to the north, with a small orchard also shown to the north of the house on the contemporary second edition Ordnance Survey map. An additional smaller structure shown on the 1834 map has not survived. Historic maps show no significant changes to the plan of the site after the loss of an outbuilding to the northwest between 1903 and 1918.

The setting is defined by its elevated location north of Drumantine Hill, commanding views over the surrounding countryside, with access via the long laneway. All buildings are positioned on an eminence to facilitate these commanding views.