Benvenu, Kilbroney Road, Rostrevor, Co.Down

Benvenue is a cottage villa built between 1822 and 1833 on Kilbroney Road, Rostrevor, on land leased from the Ross-of-Bladensburg estate. It first appears on the Ordnance Survey map of 1834 and was valued as a new building in late 1835, when its design was characteristic of the 1820s or early 1830s.

The house was most likely built by Thomas Richard Bruce, a captain in the Royal Navy. The 1835 valuation recorded the main section as measuring 59 feet by 62½ feet by 13 feet high, with returns of 26 by 16 by 17 feet and 20 by 6 by 10½ feet, and offices totalling 12 by 8 by 7 feet, 9 by 7 by 7 feet, 39 by 18 by 14½ feet, 23 by 14½ by 9 feet, and 11½ by 13½ by 7 feet. The property was advertised as a "beautifully situated cottage…completely furnished for the accommodation of a large family" in early 1835, with Henry Bruce recorded as occupant in late 1835, possibly a relative managing the property.

Thomas R. Bruce was in residence in 1846–47, but the house was let again in 1853, and by 1856 was occupied by Mrs. Forde, widow of Matthew Forde of Seaforde House. A newspaper notice in 1858 described the house as containing three handsome reception rooms and five bedrooms in addition to servants' apartments. By 1861 it had returned to Bruce hands; Jane Bruce, widow of Thomas R. Bruce, was the occupant. The 1861 valuation described Benvenue as "a very beautiful cottage villa with good view of mountain and sea…one of the prettiest villas about Rostrevor and the grounds are beautiful but land bad", with dimensions of 24 yards by 6½ feet by one storey on each flank, 18 by 7 by one storey at the centre, and 8 by 4 by one storey for a conservatory, with offices of 12 by 6 by two storeys, 7 by 5 by 1½ storeys, and 9 by 5 by 1½ storeys, and a gate lodge of 14 yards 2 feet by 9 by one storey.

After Jane Bruce's death in 1865, Benvenue was leased to Nicholas Crumlin (possibly Crommelin), followed around 1874 by Joseph Carvill, a member of a prominent Newry merchant family. Subsequent occupants included Mary Carvill (1878), John Carvill (1881), Mrs. Johnston (1884), Captain Robert Pierse (1885), and M.G. Smythe (1892).

In 1898, the house and gate lodge were leased to William James Watson, an English-born architect and land agent who had worked in Newry from at least 1872. Watson was responsible for the Methodist church at Warrenpoint (1884–85), the town hall at Bessbrook (1886), the Masonic hall on Downshire Road, Newry (1887), and various houses in Rostrevor itself. The 1901 census records him living here with his wife Elizabeth (born in County Armagh), their daughter Janet, and a domestic servant, with the house noted as a first-class dwelling with 14 rooms in use. After Watson's sudden death in August 1911, Benvenue lay vacant until 1915, when Miss Katherine Carleton, a Justice of the Peace originally from Portadown, took up the lease. She became joint tenant with Hannah Charley in 1923. Miss Carleton took particular interest in the grounds, and during her occupancy the garden became something of a local attraction. Roger Patrick Berry is noted as occupant in 1951.

Sale particulars from June 1955 described the "delightfully situated small Georgian-type house" as comprising a dining room (25 feet by 18 feet including bow window), drawing room (25 feet by 18 feet), four principal bedrooms, good culinary apartments, good outbuildings, a vacant gate lodge, and a most attractive garden. It was acquired by Reverend James Quinn, Rector of St. Jude's Ballynafeigh from 1924 to 1956 and Chancellor of Down Cathedral from 1940 to 1956, and his wife, with Mrs. Quinn still resident in 1969.