Lear House

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Two storey five bay house with aligning storey and a half ‘coach house’ facing west. Recently renovated. Harling render, PVC windows, slate roof. Square fanlight over new door. Windows align on front elevation, one to right of door and two to left. Four windows above (one over door). Coach house extension to left with two arched openings and two velux balcony type windows directly above. One window in north gable facing approach avenue none in south. Windows of differing sizes and alignments to rear. House situated at the end of a fine drive enclosed in hedges and with two circular harled gate posts at entrance. Gravel fore yard with mature tree to one side.

Standing stone (sites and Monuments Record ref: Ldy1/S29/3) in field in front of house.

Historical information

Building formerly single storey and indicated on 1831 map. Watson family tenant of building from Beresfords until 1890s. Pat ‘the Cope’ Gallagher (founder of Glenties Co-op Society) was hired to work on the farm at Strabane hiring fair from 1881 to 1882. House came into occupancy of Lynch’s circa 1890. Five generations of the Lynch family have lived in the house. The building was enlarged and partly rebuilt circa 1900. Recent renovations to the house by Adrian Maguire architect of Derry involved demolishing and rebuilding the coach house and removing a barn.

Reference:

Primary Sources:
OS Map 1st Edition 1831 Co Londonderry 29

Secondary Sources:
Pat the Cope, an Autobiography.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A formerly fine traditional house well sited but inappropriately modernised. Located in a prominent position above Learmount Road it enhanced the character of the surrounding countryside.No longer a suitable candidate for listing.