Claremont

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Building now demolished.

At time of survey (1/07/03) site was not entered. North west and south west elevations have been described from oblique views because of this and survival of all original side windows was not confirmed .

'A two storey, three bay, late Victorian house in a restrained classical style set within its own grounds. Rendered, with sandstone detailing and natural slate roof, its garden
setting is in contrast to the busy urban surroundings of a main road, an adjacent former Presbyterian church, Magee University College and terraced streets to the rear and sides. The building is sited parallel to Northland Road which runs north west to south east curving south at a junction beside the University. It has a square plan with a truncated pyramidal roof and a carefully linked return to the rear.

There are two principle facades: that facing Northland Road and the entrance elevation to the south east side. The entrance elevation has a central door with rectangular fanlight and a projecting sandstone canopy. This is detailed as a classical entablature supported by two Doric columns and Doric pilasters against the building. Flanking to each side a single tall sash window with straight head, simple projecting plaster architrave and two horizontally divided panes to each sash. Above, three windows equally spaced, these are one over one sashes with segmental heads and similar architrave. Quoins, cills and plinth course are in sandstone. Eaves finish flush with walls with projecting cast iron ogee gutter supported on sandstone dentil course. Roof rises from sides to a lead flat roof at the centre of the plan. Sandstone chimney off centre and one rising to rear. Return is parallel to entrance façade. Constructed in rubble stone it does not read as part of the house. It steps back into a link block with flat roof and pyramidal roof light before stepping out again to a small low two storey building with two four pane sash windows with brick trims to first floor and a large arched window at ground floor. The building’s roof is unusually detailed: presenting a hip to the main building and a gable surmounted by two tall brick chimneys to the rear garden.

The north east façade facing Northland Road is the same length as the south east façade described above but is divided into four window bays. The windows and detail match that described above in all respects. At the centre of the façade at roof level is a timber dormer window with a tripartite (one over one pane) sash glazing arrangement and a shallow hipped roof. A single narrow pane lights the sides, which are otherwise sheeted and painted. Sandstone chimneys to the rear are arranged to be symmetrical about this façade with one to each side of the central flat roof.

The north west façade faces a short section of garden and the returns of a nearby terraced row (Eden Terrace) which are parallel to the building. It recreates the arrangement of the south east façade without the entrance canopy. It is three bays wide with window quoin and plinth design as those already described.

The rear south west façade of the main building is blank except for a small two pane sash at first floor centred on the return. The details of render, plinth, eaves and quoins match the other facades. Two tall sandstone chimneys rise from the top of the wall on either side of the return. They are simply detailed matching the other chimneys on the building with a string course 600mm below the head alluding with the detail of the coping to a classical entablature. The gable end of the return has an over hanging eaves with lean to roof below at ground level.

The building is approached by a gravelled drive from an entrance at the south eastern end of the property. This curves around to the door before curving away and travelling to a discrete stable block at the rear boundary of the site. The stable block consists of three parallel gabled brick buildings with a small courtyards between each an exit to the rear and screen wall to the garden

Mature trees within the site have recently been cut down with some remaining along the boundary with Northland Road. The boundary to the road is a small hedge with a rendered concrete block wall and galvanised railings of modern construction at the entrance.'

Historical information

Building is not indicated on the 1850 Ordnance Survey map of this area. Slater’s Trade Directory of 1870 refers to Mrs Eleanor Graham ‘Clare Mount’ The building is indicated on the 1873 Ordnance map largely as it existed until 2003. An orchard is indicated in the south west corner near the stables and a square pleasure garden to the rear of the house. The boundary of the site extends in a straight line to Northland Road and includes the site of the present Claremont Presbyterian Church. The Derry Almanac of 1878 records a Mrs Graham residing at ‘Claremont’. In 1904 the foundation stone of the Presbyterian Church was laid in the grounds and a portion of the garden near the university cut off for this purpose. A professor Graham is recorded at the ceremony. The church served the largely Scottish shipbuilding population in the streets nearby. Miss Graham is listed as occupier in the Derry Almanac of 1918. The source of the wealth of the original Mr Graham has not yet been established but it is likely that he was involved in the shipbuilding or grocery trade in the city. The building is reported to have functioned as the Manse of the Presbyterian Church throughout most of the Twentieth Century.

The first survey of buildings of architectural and historic interest carried out in this area in 1970 did not record the building though the nearby church was listed. In late 2002 the building and grounds were put up for sale. It was purchased in January 2003 at a reported price of 1.4 million pounds. It was demolished in July 2003. The site is currently vacant.

References:

Primary sources:
Ordnance Survey Second Edition Map, Co. Londonderry Sheet 13 1853.
Ordnance survey 6” sheets. Londonderry 1873
Slaters Trade Directory 1870
Derry Almanac 1878
Derry Almanac 1918.
Derry Journal January 24th 2003 ' Claremont sold for 1.4 million'
Derry Journal July 18th 2003 ' Why has this happened again?'

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A mid- Victorian merchants house, in a classical style, now demolished. Set back from the nearby road, it was complemented by its garden. Interior condition of building at time of survey not recorded, Survival of side windows not confirmed.