71 Craigbrack Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A symmetrical two-bay single-storey lime rendered stone vernacular former dwelling with attached outbuildings to north-west and south-east, built in the latter part of the nineteenth century or in the early years of the twentieth century. Located on the west side of the Craigbrack Road, set back at an angle to the road side. Rectangular in plan form with the gable end facing the road and the principal (front) elevation facing north-east. Set within a rural
setting with distant coastal views overlooking the mouth of the River Foyle. The outbuildings are currently used as shelters for farm animals.

A series of adjoining single-storey buildings with corrugated metal pitched roofs and metal ridges and concrete copings to gable-ends with red brick chimney stacks to the gables of the former dwelling. Largely plastic rainwater goods throughout (where present). Random rubble stone walling with lime wash finish. Square-headed window openings having a variety of multi-pane timber frame windows with glazing bars and timber sliding sash windows with partially exposed sash boxes.

The front (north-east) elevation comprises the former dwelling flanked to left by a single outbuilding with slightly lower eaves level and to right by three outbuildings with various lower eaves levels.
The former dwelling is symmetrical and comprises a central square-headed painted flush timber door flanked to each side by a single square-headed 6/6 timber sliding sash window (no horns) with exposed sash box.
Outbuilding to left (closest to Craigbrack Road) has a pair of vertically sheeted timber double doors to far left set within a plain painted timber door frame.
The first outbuilding attached to the right of the former dwelling has a lower eaves level and comprises a square-headed door opening right of centre flanked by a square four-pane timber window to left and a diminutive single-pane timber window to right.
The second outbuilding attached to the right has an eaves level which is similar to the first outbuilding to the right (separated by a concrete skew) and comprises a single square-headed door opening right of centre.
Outbuilding attached to far right has a lower eaves level and is set back from the main building line. It has a single square-headed door opening to far left.

North-west gable has been raised in blockwork and has a central single-pane timber window (landscape format) to apex.

The rear (south-west) elevation of the dwelling has two square-headed timber windows, the smaller window to left has glazing bars, both are partially concealed with plywood sheeting. The outbuilding attached to the right has a square-headed structural opening with no window to the far right. The first outbuilding attached to the left has a square-headed doorway left of centre containing a plain timber door frame; doorway is partially concealed with metal sheeting. The remainder of the rear elevation is blank.

South-East gable-end elevation is blank; walling is of lime rendered stone abutted to the left side by a metal farm gate.

Setting:
Located on the west side of the Craigbrack Road, set back at an angle to the road side. The former dwelling is approached from the Craigbrack Road via a grassed and concrete private laneway. Principal elevation faces north-east and is set within a rural setting with distant coast views overlooking the River Foyle to the north.

Materials:
Roof Metal corrugated sheeting
RWGs uPVC
Walling Rubble stone lime washed
Windows Timber

Historical information

Ordnance Survey maps of 1830 and 1853 do not show any structure on this site. It appears for the first time on the Ordnance Survey map revised in 1905 where it is represented as an oblong structure on what seems to be the same footprint as the present range of buildings. This would suggest that it was built in the latter part of the nineteenth century or in the early years of the twentieth century.

Valuation maps show that the range of buildings was erected on property number 4 in the townland of Craigbrack, a property on which there were two other houses at the beginning of the twentieth century. There are no markings on these maps which would assist with identifying the occupants of this specific structure. It can, however, be said that property number 4 in Craigbrack was in the possession of the Hara or O’Hara family during the period in which the range of buildings was constructed.

References

Primary sources
1. PRONI, Ordnance Survey 6-inch map, 1830 – OS/6/5/15/1
2. PRONI, Ordnance Survey 6-inch map, 1853 – OS/6/5/15/2
3. PRONI, Ordnance Survey 6-inch map, 1905 – OS/6/5/15/3
4. PRONI, Ordnance Survey 6-inch map, 1924 – OS/6/5/15/4
5. PRONI, Valuation Revision Books, 1860-1930 – VAL/12/B/32/6A-F
6. PRONI, Annual Revisions List of the First General Revaluation, 1936-57, VAL/3/C/6/8
7. PRONI, Valuation map, 1895-c.1915, VAL/12/D/5/15E

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

R. Age
S. Authenticity
T. Historic Importance
X. Local Interest
Z. Rarity

Evaluation

A symmetrical two-bay single-storey lime washed stone vernacular former direct entry dwelling with attached outbuildings to north-west and south-east, built in the latter part of the nineteenth century or in the early years of the twentieth century. Located on the west side of the Craigbrack Road, set back at an angle to the road side. The building is distinctly vernacular in style with simple construction and materials, built in stone with corrugated pitched metal roof, probably thatched originally.
Externally the house and attached outbuildings remain largely intact in terms of their traditional massing and proportion. Although a modern bungalow has been constructed to the south, it does not significantly detract from its fine rural setting. Overall, it is a good example of an increasingly rare typology that once characterised the local area.