11 Lough Road, Carrigans, Co.Armagh

11 Lough Road, Carrigans, County Armagh

A single-storey three-bay direct-entry vernacular dwelling house built circa 1850, with an attached one-and-a-half storey single-bay former byre aligned to the south-west and a two-bay single-storey shed extension aligned to the north-east. An associated single-storey single-bay outbuilding, dating to circa 1885, stands to the south-east of the main dwelling. The house and outbuilding have been substantially renovated and well maintained in recent years, but significant replacement of original fabric—including roofs, windows and interiors—means the group does not meet the criteria for listing.

The main dwelling presents an asymmetrical principal elevation to the south-east with a replacement pitched natural slate roof finished with black terracotta ridge tiles. Smooth rendered and painted chimneys with replacement terracotta chimney pots sit above painted rubblestone walling with a painted plinth course. Square-headed openings are fitted with replacement uPVC windows set within narrow rendered margins and painted concrete sills. The replacement composite front door is also uPVC. Replacement uPVC rainwater goods are installed throughout.

The attached former byre to the left has a roof continuous with the dwelling and has been converted to living accommodation, with a replacement uPVC window and timber-framed top-hung casement window at attic level. The attached shed to the right features a shallow pitched corrugated metal roof and timber sheeted door. The south-west elevation is formed by the gable end of the byre, whilst the blank north-west rear elevation faces uphill. The north-east elevation is formed by the gable ends of both house and shed, which abut a cutting into the adjacent hillside slope.

The associated outbuilding to the south-east is single-storey and single-bay with a pitched natural slate roof and no rainwater goods. It has painted rubblestone walling with a painted plinth course. The north-west and south-east elevations feature centrally positioned timber sheeted doors to square-headed openings; the other elevations are blank.

The house and outbuilding occupy rising ground within a valley at the foot of Carrigans Hill, positioned at the end of a short drive leading from a one-kilometre laneway to the south of Lough Road. A wrought iron double gateway with rubblestone piers opens onto the driveway, which is flanked by rubblestone walling with soldier coping. This walling forms an enclosure around the dwelling and abuts the outbuilding, with further wrought iron pedestrian gates positioned to the south-west, south-east and north-east. A painted rubblestone retaining wall to the rear provides access via a single flight of steps to higher ground to the north-east. The south-east boundary wall features a substantial rubblestone structure, possibly a former lime kiln.

Historical context: The dwelling house first appears on the second edition Ordnance Survey map of 1862, indicating construction between the first edition of 1835 and 1862. Griffith's Valuation of 1862 lists the property at 10 shillings, leased by Elizabeth Murphy from Thomas P Ball. The Murphy family retained occupation through subsequent Annual Revisions with no change in valuation. An outbuilding shown on the third edition map of 1906–7 may have been roofless by the fourth edition of 1956–7.

The 1911 census records Denis Murphy, an Irish and English-speaking farmer, resident with his wife (unable to read), and one of seven children born to them. The census building return describes a stone-built dwelling roofed in perishable materials (most likely thatch) with two front windows, implying the western-most bay was then an outbuilding. Associated out-offices comprised a stable, cow house, barn and shed.

By 1933, the house was revalued at £1 5 shillings, with agricultural outbuildings valued at 5 shillings. Interior accommodation comprised a kitchen and bedroom, with rooms ceiled, earth floors and a slated roof, then considered in 'good repair'. Dimensions were recorded as 30 feet by 15½ feet, standing 10 feet high to the eaves. Owen Murphy, who had purchased the house under the Land Acts, was the occupier at that time. Patrick Gartland acquired the property in 1947 and remained resident in valuation records until 1972. In recent years the cottage has been let as holiday rental accommodation.