Tamnagh Lodge

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Georgian hunting lodge dramatically sited on a steep bank overlooking the Faughan River. Entrance porch with restored fan and side lights surmounted by simple pediment looking south west away from river, is located in the mid point of what appears to be a single storey building. In fact there are two storeys to the right of the entrance (one in the roof) and three to the left (a basement floor). The slate roof is surmounted by four tall equally spaced chimneys of unusual design (in plan two squares turned 45º). There are three nine pane sash windows to the right of the entrance and two to the left with two aligning to the basement below. A blank wall connects the facade to the gable of a three storey adjunct surmounted by a more traditional chimney. There are no windows in the gable.

The bottom floor of the adjunct is a floor lower than the main house. Its elevation to the north west has two large twelve pane sashes on the top floor There are two smaller twelve pane sashes directly below and two doors with two small nine pane sashes to the bottom floor. The elevation to the north east overlooking the river reveals the gables of the adjunct and the stable wing to be symmetrically located about the main house. A wall connects each to the building. There is a blind arch in the wall to the adjunct and an arched opening in the wall to the stables. The main house is shown as two storey on this elevation. The roof pitches up three times over dormer windows. A canted flat roofed bay window/door is in the centre of the main floor. There is one triple sashed window to each side, all align with the dormers above. A window to the kitchen in the basement can be seen to the right of the bay.

A single opening high up in the gable of the stable wing is reflected by a recess in the gable of the adjunct. This also has a twelve pane sash window below.

The two storey stable wing to the south west of the building has a three pointed arch to the coach house and top hung timber windows detailed to look like sashes on its south west facade. It was being renovated into tourist accommodation at the time of this survey.

Historical information

Lodge built circa 1790 by Mr Hugh Lyle of Oaks Lodge near Derry, as a hunting lodge at the base of a 1,200 acre area. Extended circa 1830. 1903 Irish Land Commission broke up land. Bought by the Cook family involved in shipping in Derry early in the twentieth century. Sold to the O’Hagan family, local farmers in the 1960s. Bought by Hugh Logue in 1970s and renovated by him from a derelict condition in 1979. Further alterations and improvements by present owner in 1994/95. Architects F M Corr and Associates of Derry.

References:

Primary Sources:
1. OS Map 1st Edition 1831, Co Londonderry sheet 29
2. OS Map 2nd Edition 1848, Co Londonderry sheet 29
3. OS Map 1905 revision, Co Londonderry sheet 29
4. 'Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland Vol.30. Parishes of County Londonderry X', ed Angelique Day & Patrick McWilliams (QUB, 1995) p.59, p30.

Secondary Sources:
'Taken for Granted by Richard Pierce and Alastair Coey' RSUA 1984
Present owner

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
D. Plan Form
E. Spatial Organisation
H-. Alterations detracting from building

Criteria for listing: historic interest

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

Evaluation

A fine Georgian hunting lodge with well detailed and deceptively simple exterior which gives no clue of the dramatic entrance space. The dining room is also of note. It is an elegant and well proportioned building, a memorable example of the type.