Little Elagh

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

2 storey 3 bay wide house, with 2 storey rear returns, smooth rendered externally with pitched, hipped slated roofs. To the east of the house a range of stone built and modern outbuildings. The principal entrance facade faces SSE.

The symmetrical entrance front has 2, 2 storey canted end projecting bays on either side of a round headed door, 4 panelled, with plain fanlight, a simple band surround with keystone imitation and crude lugs. The door has thin pilasters on each side with simple cornice. Upper door panels rounded.

The 2 storey bays have 3 windows at each level. All windows are top hung pvc type. Cills are continuous to form bands and extend as a string course across the facade. There is a thin moulding slightly above the head of the windows at both levels and moulded panels on each facet above that. Under the eaves is a frieze with bottom moulding and enlivened with a rhythm of paired modillions. The facade is framed on either side with plaster quoins. Some of the plasterwork had been colour washed at one time. There is no plinth.

Each side elevation, 2 bays deep has windows ground and first floor to light the rear rooms. The paired modillions are returned on these elevations and quoins omitted at back corners. Gutter is ogee, carried round 3 sides with 3 cast iron downpipes indiscreetly placed.

The back return has windows irregularly placed and sized. All walls are smooth cement rendered.

The slated roofs are hipped to the front and gabled at rear. Triple double roofs with a narrow one over the stair area which is not evident from the front. Plain ridge tiles with 4 no redbrick chimneys. There is an attic with laylights. Faceted roofs over bays with lead hips.

The house is set back from the road with a straight path leading to the front door from a pedestrian gate with plastered piers. Further along the road to the west is vehicular entrance with similar piers but larger. To the east a collection of outbuildings stone and corrugated metal laid out regularly but with little regard to their architectural effect. Across the road an irregular shaped padlock with random rubble front wall with 2 entrances arranged symmetrically with house. Wall rises at each to frame the gates in a quaint manner. The house enjoys splendid panoramic view towards Derry. The garden is not well tended and there are some mature trees.

Historical information

The earlier house is shown in the O.S.S. 1830 and closer to the road, but the paddock across the road is easily distinguished. One long barn close to the road shown. The 1850 O.S.S. shows house in similar position but with additional outbuildings. The house probably was rebuilt in present position c 1860s. The owner could not throw any light on the date except he thought it was c 1830.

The owner/occupier before the present was a John S Brown and he also owned the surrounding land. The present owner is in residence 10 years.

References

Primary Sources
1. O.S. Map 1st Edition 1830 Londonderry 13.
2. O.S. Map 1st Revision 1850 Londonderry 13.

Secondary Sources
1. Current owner

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

An imposing mid Victorian small house with a pleasing symmetrical front. Alterations, particularily the insertion of pvc windows exclude the possibility of listing.