Laurel Hill

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Two storey three bay former rectory with projecting porch and slate pitched roof. Gable in roof over central bay. The building is sited on a hill looking north west over Learmount wood. Original four pane sash windows to facade. Entrance door on north east side of porch is of note. Its ‘gothick’ ogee fanlight and moulded architrave with matching stone base is exactly the same as that on Lynch’s pub (HB01/01/013) and on the former pub on Altinure Road.

The gables on either side of the main facade are one room wide and symmetrical. Each has a bay window with a sash above.

A double piled return, with irregularly spaced sash windows, sits to the back of the house, this is almost the width of the front. To the north east a lean to shed abuts the building and there are steps to a small basement. To the south west a single storey wing is surmounted by a tall brick chimney of very similar design to those on Tamnagh Lodge (HB01/01/020) i.e. on plan two squares at forty five degrees rising to touching copings. The wing is terminated by a two storey barn which along with a storey and a half coach house form a courtyard to the back of the main building. The barn and coach house (arched opening in gable and chimney to rear) have been recently renovated. There is an exterior staircase to the first floor of the stables in the courtyard.

Historical information

House originally known as Parkhill House. It was built as the rectory for Learmount Church and appears on the 1831 map. It is not however mentioned in the Ordnance Survey Memoirs. The 1831 arrangement of buildings appears exactly as today with the exception of an ornamental garden and small ‘summerhouse?’ to the west. This area is now a field. A memorial in Learmount Church commemorates Rev James Stevenson Hunter rector of Learmount for 44 years who died at Parkhill on 18 July 1876. The house was sold to the Quigleys of Park Mill around the turn of the century who sold it to the grandfather of the present occupant in 1947. It was undoubtedly influenced by Beresford as testified by the door fanlight.

References:

Primary Sources:
1. OS Map 1st Edition 1831, Co Londonderry sheet 29
2. Present Occupants original photographs and records.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

C. Ornamentation
H-. Alterations detracting from building
I. Quality and survival of Interior

Criteria for listing: historic interest

V. Authorship
W. Northern Ireland/International Interest
Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance
Z. Rarity

Evaluation

A mid Victorian rectory of simple detail sited on a prominent hill at the entrance to Park Village. It is interesting because of its connection with the history of the village. The door and fanlight are a unique motif repeated on other estate buildings in the area. From a social history point of view the almost intact servants quarters are remarkable.