Fairmount House

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Two storey square plan house measuring 13 metres by 13, three bays wide on each facade with slight breakfront of central bay on three facades with the breakfront terminating in a pediment or gable on the north and south sides. The roof is a three pile structure running east to west. The principal entrance is on the east side with 1 sliding sash window in each bay on either side and corresponding windows on the first floor. Three gables are formed on the east and west facades. Two chimney stacks pierce the roof valleys. The walls are smooth rendered and unpainted with asbestos slates on roof, timber barges and fascias . On the north and south sides, flat sandstones form the eaves. The main entrance has a square headed fanlight while the entrances on the north and south are round without astragals. Gutters and downpipes are PVC.

The house is sited up an avenue from Altinure Road from which another short avenue leads to the front entrance. Slightly detached from the house a collection of 19th and 20th century barns. Around the house and close to it rows of tall trees creating ‘a bleak house’ atmosphere.

Historical information

Built in c1871 by a Father F Conway as a junior seminary for the Derry Diocese. He died in 1873. The property passed into the ownership of Devine and then Gormley and now the present owners.

Reference:

Primary Sources:
1. OS Map 1905 Revision, Co Londonderry sheet 29
2.Headstone Altinure Graveyard.

Secondary Sources:
1.Daly E 'Priests of the Diocese of Derry' (1998)
2.Present occupant

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Interesting mid 19th century triple pile roofed building with an unusual former use as a small rural seminary. Inappropriate materials and details used in its modernisation. Does not merit listing.