Cottages and Stables at

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Three cottage/barn buildings in a terrace stepping down a hill opposite Carrickhugh Corn Mill (HB02/02/006). Behind the two storey group and a little to the north, is a courtyard enclosed on three sides by single storey stable buildings. (The fourth, south side, behind the terrace has modern steel barns).

The southernmost building of the terrace, at the highest ground level, is two storeys high, and two structural bays long. To the street between it and the mill are two first floor openings at eaves level. One eight pane sash remains. Below, aligning aligning with one of these openings is a similar window and there is also a large opening with sliding timber barn door inside. The building is in stone with brick trims, a natural slate roof, and has a brick chimney at the northern end of the ridge. The southern gable has a door at first floor, reached by an external flight of steps.

The second building is of brick construction and of similar length to the first. It is a storey and a half in height. Four openings are irregularly distributed on the facade. One twelve pane sash remains. No chimney on the natural slate roof. One rooflight.

The third building is much longer. Seven bays long, it has a central dormer with large slatted door opening onto external steps and a similar sized door below. It is two storeys high and built in white washed stone but its roof is still lower than the brick building. At first floor windows are symmetrical about the central dormer. To the south there are four pane sash windows. To the north these have been replaced by casements. At ground floor there are two doors and a window to the south and a sliding door and window to the north. The rear of the building is largely enclosed in a modern barn. Various openings have been created between the two.

The single storey stable courtyard is in bad condition. At the road, aligning with the terrace but separated by the simple courtyard entrance, is a stone building with cut corner quoins. It is open to the courtyard along its full length. The other wings are in brick with an irregular series of openings. At the south western corner is a small brick building of note. Slightly taller than the rest, it has a slate roof surmounted by a centrally placed (and badly decayed) ventilator. A central slatted timber door with segmental head is flanked by two windows with cast iron casements detailed to look like sashes (20 pane). These are similar to those found in a cottage at Barnakilly (HB02/02/010).

Historical information

Part of the complex of buildings associated with the nearby Carrickhugh Mills (HB02/02/005 & 006) and Carrichue House (HB02/02/001). All the buildings are on land once owned by the Fishmongers’ Company. The 1835 Ordnance Survey Memoirs records the owner of the mills as Jacob Levingston. George Cather was owner from the 1840’s onwards. The 1848 Ordnance Survey Map shows the terrace of buildings and part of the stone wing of the stables. The brick wings of the stable yard have not been constructed. A second building subsequently demolished is behind the stone stable. The 1858 Griffith’s Valuation lists ‘offices and clerks house’ value £15. 0s 0d occupied by George Cather, lessor: the ‘Worshipful Company of Fishmongers’. The Fishmongers sold off most of their estate in the 1890s and the Cather family bought their lands at Carrickhugh. After the turn of the century, however they leased farm and buildings to various people. The present owner's family bought the farm in 1948 and have renovated the buildings to farm use.

References:

The Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland Vol. 36 p.21
Limavady and the Roe Valley by Rev T H Mullan p.91
The 1858 Griffiths Valuation, Newtownlimavady p.179
Ordnance Survey Map 9, 1830, 1848, 1923
Owner (1998)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A range of buildings which fit well into the sloping and wooded landscape of the Carrickhugh Valley. The facade of the long two storey barn in particular compliments the similar elevation of the mill building opposite. As a group of farm buildings they are simple and direct with little architectural refinement, but they are of pleasing proportion and add character to their surroundings. Historically they are interesting as part of the complex of industrial buildings at Carrickhugh.