Tullyarden Lodge

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A small one and half storey double pile house, natural slated, gabled with central yellow brick chimney on front pile and another chimney centrally on the rear of the other pile. Walls smooth rendered and lined with plastered quoins, unpainted to south, east and north but painted to rear on roughcast rendering. Gables of piles not in line and that to rear projects to north with the main entrance and porch tucked into corner with flat roof and plastered quoins. A rear porch, a storey and a half high tucks into the opposite corner and contains the landing to back bedroom.

The roadside, east elevation, is two bays wide with 2 No. triple light sliding sash windows of two panes. Each light separated with three-quarter engaged wooden columns with moulded crotched capitals and squared bases and banded shafts. Each window has a moulded plaster hood with plain block stop. Top arris of reveal stop chamfered. Above each window a two light gabled dormer, slated with decorated red clay ridge tiles, timber finial and delicately detailed decorative barges. Each dormer window has similar three-quarter column as below. South gable of front pile has two light centrally placed ground floor and first floor windows matching the dormer windows and with hood mouldings as before. Gable has open work decorative barges with slim moulded finial. Both gables of the north side are similarly treated except that the window in the porch gable and rear pile gable are plainer without engaged column or hood moulding.

To the rear, i.e., west side, there is a single two pane sash window in gabled dormer, other windows plain in a mixture of sliding sash and top hung. The four panelled moulded door of entrance porch has narrow leaded light side screens with shallow fanlight divided in three. The slated roofs appear original and both ridges have moulded red tiles similar to dormers with a couple broken. Chimneys are of yellow brick, moulded and with decorative, tall octagonal pots. The south gable of the rear pile has neither overhand or moulded barge. The main fascias have exposed moulded rafter feet. Gutters are cast iron and ogee and downpipes round cast-iron.

The house is set close to the roadside separated from it by a narrow garden with decorative cast iron railing with pedestrian gate. To the south a walled vehicle entrance with curved walls leading into an enclosed yard formed by small outbuildings and giving access to rear porch. To the north and west a well laid out romantic garden with mature planting neatly secreting the house from the new development taking place beyond it.

Historical information

The house is not referred to in the Griffiths Valuation Book and it is likely it was erected circa 1860s. It displays some of the details of other houses in the Ward established by or under the Irish Society. The present owner is in residence 12 years and prior to that was occupied by Professor Cathcart, a former BBC producer. The house is known as Tullyarden Lodge.

References:
Primary Sources:
OS Map 1904-5 revision Co Londonderry 14A
Griffiths Valuation Book 1858

Secondary Sources
Present Owner (1999).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A pleasing mid-Victorian cottage orne with interesting exterior and interior detailing displaying a mixture of good neo-Gothic and Classical repertoire Presently enjoys a panoramic view of Lough Foyle and the Benevenagh headland with a pleasing secluded garden. The property has been well cared for over the years. Good front garden railing and pedestrian gate.