Former Caretaker's house at Finnebrogue estate farmyard, 31 Killyleagh Road, Finnabrogue, Downpatrick, Co Down, BT30 9BL

Former Caretaker's House at Finnebrogue Estate Farmyard

This is a relatively large, single-storey house with attic, dating from before 1834. It was extended and extensively renovated around 1991. The dwelling originally served as the residence of the caretaker of Finnebrogue estate farm, a large complex situated to the north-west of the house. The farm buildings were constructed in various stages from perhaps the 1790s to the mid-20th century.

The house is located at the end of a lane on the south-east side of Killyleagh Road, roughly two miles north of Downpatrick. When first surveyed in February 1977, the building still retained a vernacular appearance, with whitewashed walls and Georgian-paned sash windows. The 1834 Ordnance Survey map shows the building, and it was recorded in the 1838 valuation as the residence of the farm caretaker, William Ray. At that time it was in good condition, thatched, and believed by the valuers to be over 25 to 30 years old.

The property was substantially altered and extensively renovated in 1991. A large gabled entrance projection was added to the front, with a partly glazed doorway to the south-west face. To the left and right of this bay, many window openings have been enlarged. The original entrance, which stood to the left of the present bay, was converted to a window. The original roof was replaced, raised considerably in the process, with gabled dormers inserted. As a result of these extensive alterations, the house is now of little architectural interest.

The Finnebrogue Estate Farmyard

The early development of the estate farm is unclear. The earliest surviving plan is shown on the 1834 Ordnance Survey map, which depicts a long range of buildings straddling a boundary wall on the north-west side, a large stable to the south-east of this, the caretaker's house to the east, a smaller house at the south end of the yard, and a large threshing barn with horse walk to its east. The 1838 valuation grades some buildings 'A' (possibly built in the previous 25 to 30 years) and 'B' (possibly over thirty years old), suggesting the complex witnessed various periods of development. Industrial archaeologist Dr Fred Hammond has proposed that much construction may have taken place shortly after the refurbishing of Finnebrogue House itself, around 1795 to 1800, and that the creation of a 'model' farmyard may have been intended.

Between 1834 and 1858, the long north-west range was extended northwards. To the north-east, a large cow shed, corn store with drying kiln, steam engine house and chimney grouping were built—a collection of structures geared towards the feeding of cattle. A single-storey range opposite the large stable was also added to the site. Plans within the Perceval-Maxwell Papers at PRONI 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 at the far east side of the complex, along with a single-storey shed to the immediate east of the threshing barn. A brick gate house was built on the north side of the south gateway, and a building (now demolished) was added to the very north-east corner of the yard. Valuation revision books provide little indication of exact construction dates or the original functions of each building.

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). 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. In the latter decades of the century, the complex appears to have fallen into disuse.

The estate was sold to the present owner around 1990 to 1991. Since then, the large house to the south-east and the smaller dwelling to the south-west have been refurbished. Some of the farm buildings are currently used as stores.