Straw House

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A 3 bay wide 2½ storeys, gabled and slated house with gable chimneys, 2 storey back return reducing to single storey, now derelict.

The entrance or east side has central segmented arched doorway with double doors having 2 panes each in upper part. There is a moulded unpainted plaster architrave with square head above the segment. On each side there is a window opening with square headed plaster surround with 2 no. scrolls under cill and set on top of plinth line. On the first floor there are 3 openings above the openings below each with moulded pediment and under each cill plaster scrolls resting on moulded short course. These 3 windows treated like aedicules emphasising a non-existent piano mobile. Only the centre window retains its sliding sashes of 4 panes. The other windows on ground and first floor are devoid of sashes. The overall façade is of good proportion with dominant solid over void. It has a stone plinth, bold stone quoins and a small moulded cornice under the gutter.

The wall is devoid of plaster (obviously removed for replastering) and exposes the redbrick. The roof has natural slates and the gable chimneys smooth rendered. Ridge is plain roll.

The south gable and back return are in line without set back. The gable has 2 sliding sash 4 pane windows on ground floor, a single sliding sash 2 pane at first floor and smaller than those below. 2 larger sliding sash 2 pane windows under barge at attic. The gable defined by quoins on each side, that to the west plaster. Straight moulded plaster barges returned across base of chimney and at eaves line. The gable wall is smooth rendered with plaster plinth.

The south side of the back return has 2 sliding sash 2 pane windows at ground and first floor directly over each other and the wall treated similar to S gable. There are central and gable chimneys, roof slated with red ridge tile. Beyond the back return at short single storey return in line with single sheeted door, recently done.

The north gable of the main block has 2 window openings with sashes, walls devoid of plaster exposing rubble stone with brickwork at attic level. These quoins at the NE corner only but the gable has moulded barges as south end. Plinth returns on this gable.

The rear walls of the main block and back return have retained some of the former harling. There are few windows particularly at ground level. A window at first landing of main stair has been built-up. Walls of main block are built of stone with brick at attic level, where a window at the stair is blocked off with an old door. The walls of the back return are built mainly of redbrick with a little stone at ground level.

The exterior of the house is in a bad state of repair, indeed repair work has been abandoned.

The property is sited on flat ground one field back from the Straw Road with a straight avenue which turns a right angles to approach the house. (See illustration Benbradagh No. 6)

Presently the approach is through the farmyard but was not the former case. The front of the house looks towards the River Roe across several fields. There is a 2 storey long outbuilding with single storey return.Openings have been altered. There is little evidence of former gardens or orchard.

Historical information

This property belonged to the Edwards family in the 17th century. The Edwards family were granted six townlands in Bovevagh in 1666 on Cromwellian Settlement. Edward Edwards was Alderman and sheriff in Derry in 1671 while in the same year his son Hugh Edwards was mayor. Hugh Edwards was a merchant in the city and was parliamentary representative in 1661. He erected the Edwards wall tablet in the N aisle of St Columb’s cathedral in 1674 to the memory of his father. Dr Henry Edward Edwards, great grandson of the original grantee lived at Straw House. The O.S. Memoirs records Mrs Edwards in residence at ‘Strath’ in 1834. this Mrs Edwards, otherwise Boyle, d. July 1836 and is buried with her husband and his mother within the walls of the Old Bovevagh Church (HB02/04/001).

In the Griffiths Valuation Book the occupant is given as John Semple with a valuation of £18 for house and gatehouse. There is no gatehouse at present. Dean in the ‘Gate Lodges of Ulster’ refers to it as being opposite the gates and is demolished.

There is an article on the Semples of Strath House in Benbradagh No. 6 (1975) written by John Boyd whose grandfather married Matilda Semple of Strath House in 1863.There is an illustration of the house with the article. This shows the avenue approaching the house from the south and not through the farmyard. The house is similar in appearance as today except that it was intact and occupied. Boyd does not describe the house but he refers to the cellar and that a tunnel ran from it to the River Roe. He records that his grandmother explored a short distance of it by candlelight. It is reported that there is a ghostly story attached to the house. Some of the Semple family fought in the American wars, a brother for the Confederates and another brother for the Federals, George and Robert Semple respectively, both of whom returned to Strath House.

A Semple married a Tom Mercer and inherited Straw House. For sometime it was occupied by tenants one of whom was Maconachy, a retired sea captain. The wife of the present owner is a Mercer.

Four years ago his son attempted restoration of the house but later abandoned the work. He is a carpenter. He had filled in the cellar.

References

Primary Sources
1. O.S. Map 1st Edition 1832 Londonderry sheet no 24
2. Griffith’s Valuation 1858 Parish of Bovevagh
3. Present Owner’s wife 19-07-1999

Secondary Sources

1. J E Mullan, The Presbytery of Limavady p51, 53, 56, 90, 159
2. T Colby Memoir of City and North Western Liberties of Londonderry, Parish of Templemore p82, 105
3. O.S. Memoirs of Ireland, Parishes of Londonderry VII, Vol. 25 p.23
4. Benbradagh No. 6 1975 Art. by John Boyd p.4, 5, 6
5. J.A.K. Dean The Gate Lodges of Ulster p.121

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A mid Victorian farmhouse on the foundations of an early house of mid 17th century origin. While the house is now ruinous it has a pleasing principal façade with neo classical ornamentation. Its association with the Edwards family makes it of historical significance in the wider and local context.