46 Culmore Point Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A single storey long house, slated, gabled, and with five single chimney stacks evenly spaced from gable to gable. It is one and a half storey at west end. There is a gabled projecting porch and to the rear a two storey extension. Built close to the road and parallel to it this house is seven bays long and faces more or less due south with marvellous view of Culmore Bay, the narrows of River Foyle, Foyle Bridge and Ballynagard House.

The projecting gabled and slated porch forms the centre bay with three large windows on one side and two on the other. Beyond there the one and a half storey section forms a gable with large canted bow window at ground floor and a small oriel window set in the gable. Walls are finished in roughcast rendering, colour washed, natural slated roof with good eaves overhang to the south with shaped and exposed roof rafters, chimney stacks smooth rendered with cap and single tall pot each. Windows are large with two light timber sashes but not sliding with long stone cill and small corbels under. Two light timber windows to porch with panelled door on flank wall. The extension to the rear is set back from the east gable of the single storey part and is therefore unobtrusive from the roadside.

A high hedge separates the house from the road.

This house appears to have been two houses in the last century and has gone through several changes of use since.

Historical information

This house was probably two if not three built as coast guard houses by the Irish Society for the Board of Admiralty in c1864. At this time the fort was the coast guard station. In 1865 the Irish Society constructed a new road to Culmore point and erected a water wall to protect it. In 1866 the Admiralty informed the Society that the coast guard station was being removed much to the annoyance of the Society. The Admiralty withdrew the coast guards in 1870 and the Society made arrangements for two of the houses to be used as a constabulary station.

The Irish Society retained ownership of 46 Culmore Point Road until 12 years ago when a Mr Brian Doherty bought it from the Society. It had a large site, which he retained to the rear and built a new house there. The present owners purchased No. 46 four years ago. Mr Doherty added the rear extension to No. 46.

References:

Primary Sources:

OS Map 1904-5 Revision Co Londondrry 14A

Secondary Sources:
Historical Narrative of Irish Society 1611-1915 p.58, p.61, p.63, p.72.
Present owner (1999).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A cottage dwelling which as passed through several vicissitudes over the years, illustrating the capacity of buildings to adapt to change. Reminiscent of the former constabulary building at Bellerena (see HB02/09/036). Extent of modern alterations has reduced its historical and architectural character.