Ashpark House

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A 2 storey 5 bay wide house with ½ hips, 2 chimney stacks on roof, basement, attic and back return which is a separate dwelling. House walls harled externally.

The S E entrance front has central doorway, 6 panels, thin wood pilaster, panelled, on either side with slight cornice, semi-circular fanlight with astragals radiating from series of small circles, architrave to fanlight. 4 curved steps lead to door. On each side of door 2 sliding sash 12 pane Georgian style windows with sandstone cills. At first floor similar windows directly over openings below. Single corbel course under eaves with ½ round metal gutter, downpipe on N E gable, natural slated roof, clay ridge and hip tiles. Two large chimney stacks on ridge, smooth rendered with 5 chimney pots each and slight overhanging cap. Harled finish to walls beginning to break down. No plinth.

S W elevation has 2no. sliding sash windows, 12 pane to ground floor, a single similar window at first floor and 2 no. smaller 9 pane sliding sash windows under ½ hip lighting attic. At basement 3 no. slit windows. Wall harled.

N E Elevation has 1 sliding sash window, 12 pane to ground floor, 2no. similar windows at first floor and 2 no. smaller 9 pane sliding sash windows under ½ hip to attic. At basement 4 no. 4 pane windows. Wall harled. From this gable a brick wall runs from the rear corner with brick piers and decorative iron gates leading to farmyard behind house.

The back elevation is partly obscured by long back return of separate dwelling (see HB02/05/005B) which extends as far as the staircase window. Below the staircase window is a small slated lean-to return which sits over external steps leading to basement. This lean-to has a small 4 pane window in its gable. Adjacent to this at ground floor is an 18 pane sliding sash window, above the lean-to a 9 pane sliding sash window lighting a rear bedroom and also above the lean-to a 12 pane sliding sash staircase window. Over this and lighting the 2nd floor landing a 6 pane window. Wall is harled, plain corbel eaves with ½ round metal gutter and a single downpipe on the N E gable. On the roof, at the S W end, a small rooflight.

The house is freestanding, apart form the back return, in its own generous grounds, very adjacent to Knockan House, with winding avenue approach with mature trees. The grounds like the house have not been well maintained in recent years. There are decorative metal gates at avenue entrance without masonry piers.

Historical information

Ashpark has always been in the possession of present owners and was built in 1796. It was recorded by John McCloskey in 1821 as being “the property of James Stevenson Esquire; and about these houses (Knockan and Ashpark) are some very thriving plantations of ash, beech, fir and other trees that contribute greatly to diversifying and embellish the too dull conformity of our scenery”. Memoirs state that this house was built by William Stevenson. The Memoirs describe the house as having a steep sloping roof which would make it seem of an older date. The house has probably had a new roof since then. The house is shown as at present on the 1830 O.S. map.
Hist Garden No. L/045

References

Primary Sources
1. O.S. Map 1830 Londonderry sh. 30
2. O.S. Memoirs of Ireland, Parishes of Co Londonderry X, 1833-34, 1838
Ed by Angelique Day and Patrick McWilliams Q.U.B. p.29, 30
3. John McCloskey, Statistical Reports of Six Derry Parishes 1821 p. 73
4. Notes, 1st Survey, Built Heritage, 5-33 Hill Street, Belfast

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
D. Plan Form
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A late 18th cent. house in Georgian manner with good entrance front and set in generous grounds containing much mature planting if latterly somewhat overgrown. The secluded gardens sweep down to the banks of the Owenbeg River and adjacent to the romantic Knockan bridge over that river.The rarity of good surviving 18th.C houses like this justifies the higher B grade of listing.