Mullartown House, Glassdrumman Rd, Annalong, Newry, Co Down, BT34 4QL

Mullartown House

An important house of strong local character, located on Glassdrumman Road near Annalong. Dating from the early 19th century (1800-1819), the building retains sufficient quality in its symmetry, plan and construction to merit listing, though it has been marred by inappropriate extensions added during its later use as a residential conference centre.

The main building is two and a half storeys high, arranged in three bays with its principal elevation facing south. The pitched roof is natural slate with a chimney at each gable—the left (west) gable is coursed granite blocks, while the right (east) gable is cement rendered. The walls are regularly coursed granite blocks, except for the north gable which is rendered. Rainwater goods are plastic.

The south elevation is symmetrical and formally composed. A central porch sits on a two-step plinth and features two Doric columns with pilasters behind, supporting an architrave and cornice. The porch sides have been infilled with granite blocks. The door is modern and glazed, fitted with a wrought iron grille and margin-paned transom light. On either side of the porch at ground floor level are windows, with corresponding windows directly above at first floor level. These are Georgian sliding sash windows with six over six panes and granite cills. Above the porch is a modern wrought-iron baluster rail enclosing a balcony with a metal-framed French window.

The west elevation has a modern door and window at ground floor and a single sliding sash window at first floor. The east gable has one window at attic level and a metal fire escape stair. The rear elevation faces onto a courtyard and is considerably altered, with a one and a half storey gabled modern extension at the centre and a single storey gabled lean-to to the right.

To the left of the rear elevation stands a low two storey block, formerly an outhouse, with its rear (east-facing) wall in line with the right gable of the house. A one-bay wide structure extends to the right of the main façade, used as a dining room. It has a flat roof, pebble dashed walls and stained timber windows. A modern single storey dwelling with gabled roof occupies the rear left of the courtyard.

The courtyard's north side features a two-storey barn with external steps and original animal stalls. The planted grounds are mature, with lawns and shrubs fronting the main façade, a walled garden with a small greenhouse to the west, and a small lawn to the east. The foundations of a shell house survive on the boundary wall at Glassdrumman Road.

A building was shown at this location on the 1834 Ordnance Survey 6-inch map and is explicitly captioned "Mullartown House" on the 1859 edition. The house was last occupied as a residence in the late 1970s, after which it became a residential conference centre. The visible extensions and alterations date from this period of conversion. Most of its original fireplaces were removed in the early 1980s. However, the fireplace, plasterwork and internal doors that remain are mostly original.