Ballynagard House

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A large two storey double pile house five bay wide on entrance front with a variety of gabled and hipped slated roofs. There are large two storey semi-circular end bays. To the front there is a canted bay. There are several back returns, single and two storey. Built of random rubble schist trimmed with red brick and bays entirely of red brick. There is a large conservatory on the south side. Behind the house, i.e. to the west, are outbuildings detached from the main house and forming a grassed courtyard. They are also of rubble schist construction and are largely intact.

The entrance facade, facing east, is a two storey gabled block, five bays long with the fanlighted entrance asymmetrically placed at the south side, the next bay to the north is a large two storey canted bay faced with red brick with 18 pane sliding sash windows in each facet of the ground floor and 12 pane in windows above. The next two bays on each floor have similar windows in 12 and 9 panes. The entrance door has a wide segmental fanlight with radiating astragals, side screens on both sides and glazed on upper portion, with panelled pilasters, cornice and six panelled door.

From the south gable projects a single two storey bay with much lower eaves and smaller sliding sash windows, 12 pane on ground floor and nine pane on first floor. On the gable of this bay a red brick semi-circular bow with three sliding sash 12 pane windows on ground floor and nine pane windows. On the north gable a similar bow but to match the higher eaves line with the same arrangement of windows.

There are straight forward pitch natural slated roofs over the main blocks with red ridge tiles. The canted bay is similarly slated but with lead hips and ridge. The bows have gradated natural slates. Walls of the main facade are built of random schist stonework with brick trim to door and windows and quoins. The two storey single bay has smooth rendered walls with windows brick trimmed, brick quoins and double brick eaves course. Eaves don’t overhang except for half round metal gutters. The southern gables have concrete barges and one smooth rendered chimney.

On the south side a stone built random rubble two storey block returns and is three bays long with three sliding sash windows at first floor. From the ground floor of it a large conservatory projects. On the north side a two storey block also returns but of similar height to the principal facade. It is two bays long, built of random rubble schist and brick trim to windows and brick quoins. On the north face a large round headed window lights a secondary staircase and below it there is a doorway. The south gable has two sliding sash windows on ground and first floors with plaster reveals. Roof slated and hipped with red hip and ridge tiles, two smooth rendered chimneys on ridge.

On the west side of the house is a mixture of different two storey buildings with a lean-to roof against the double pile gable and a large single storey return which contains the kitchen. Most of the walls on this side are smooth rendered with brick trim. There is one large round headed window which lights the main staircase.

Some of the outbuildings, those facing onto the grass courtyard have a pleasing symmetrical arrangement. There is a central higher block three bays wide with an arcade of bricked up arches on the ground floor. Walls are built of random rubble schist trimmed with redbrick Some of the pitched roofs are slated, others covered with corrugated asbestos.

The building enjoys a handsome panoramic view of Lough Foyle from an elevated site which has recently been laid out in terraces, low walls and planted. Access to the house is by a long sweeping avenue from the Culmore Road where there is a gate lodge and gates (see HB01/27/015B).

Historical information

Ballynagard House was formerly the property of the Hart family who possessed Kilderry House at Muff Co Donegal, a couple of miles to the north and Doe Castle Co Donegal. The Hart family have been in the district since the late 16th century. A house is shown on the 1830 OSS 14 with extensive outbuildings part of is still standing and forming the service enclosed courtyard to the rear of the present property. Griffiths Valuation book 1858, gives the lessor as George V Hart and the occupant as William Campbell and a valuation of £45 which included house, gate houses and two labourer’s houses. The labourer’s houses cannot be identified but the two gate lodges can. One of these, the more northerly is of 1850s and the other to the south at the present avenue entrance from Culmore Road is earlier, c1830. The present house, apart from recent extensions, would appear to date from the late 1850's (architect unknown). The bold canted two storey bay is similar to that of Boomhall which is thought to be of late 18th century. Before the Hart family sold the property it contained a handsome library. Property sold in late 1970s to a consortium. The present owner purchased property in late 1980s but the consortium retained north gate lodge (HB01/27/017). The building was damaged by fire and vandalised prior to purchase by the present owner. Extensive renovation works carried out in 1993 architect Edward Kerr, builder O’Neill Bros.

References:

Primary Sources:
OS Map 1st Edition 1830 Co Londonderry 14
OS Map 2nd Edition 1853 Co Londonderry 14
OS Map 1904-5 Revision Co Londonderry 14A
Ornance Survey Memoirs Parish of Templemore ( OS 1837)
Griffiths Valuation 1858

Secondary Sources:
JAK Dean ' The Gate Lodges of Ulster- a gazetteer' p111
HT Heart ' The family history of Heart of Donegal.' London: Mitchell Huges & Clarke, 1907

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
H-. Alterations detracting from building
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A substantial late Georgian house, extended in mid Victorian period but retaining its Georgian style though its asymmetrical facades present an incongruous pile. It preserves its use of local materials, brick, stone and slate and has a magnificent setting overlooking the River Foyle. The east, north and south facade retains their former character though the latter is marred by the large conservatory. The interior is a complete reconstruction.The fine group of outbuildings to the rear are largely intact and merit protection.