Historic Buildings Record · Northern Ireland
Aughlish House
Aughlish, Causeway Coast and Glens, Northern Ireland
The record
- Designation
- Record only (not listed)
- Grade
- Record Only
- Type
- House
- Date of construction
- 1780 - 1799
- Address
- Aughlish House, 136 Glenedra Road, Feeny, Co Londonderry, BT47 4TP
- Townland
- Aughlish
- Council
- Causeway Coast and Glens
- Country
- Northern Ireland
- Coordinates
- 54.87758, -6.97774
- Date of survey
- 13 July 2000
- HB reference
- HB02/05/013
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 4 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1753 "Mappa geographica Regni Hiberniae" (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
The Department's description
Exterior description and setting
A 5 bay wide 2½ storey, gabled, slated house with 4 chimney stacks. The entrance elevation which faces north and has a fine panoramic view, has a modern 6 panel hardwood door with semicircular fanlight with radial astragals of crude section. Former sliding sash windows replaced with hardwood 2 pane windows with opening light top hinged. Walls pebble dashed with Carmean chips, plaster rusticated quoins and smooth rendered plinth. Ogee aluminium pressed gutters and round downpipes. Asbestos slated roof. 4 chimney stacks rendered similarily to walls and having caps.
Each gable has 2 small windows under projecting barges, walls finished as N side. S side has a projecting gabled porch at 2nd bay. On each side there are 1 and 2 double windows respectively with 5 no. windows at first floor as N side but unevenly spaced.
House is sited at end of long broad avenue with good drystone walls and hedges. Around the house but detached are various farm buildings.
Historical information
A house has been on this site since at least the mid 18th cent. It was the house of Rev Professor Thomas Witherow, first professor of church history in Magee College, Londonderry. He was born and grew up here until his becoming a Presbyterian minister. The present house probably outlined its present form when the professor’s brother Robert inherited the family farm in 1867. The house was renovated in 1970s when it lost whatever character it had.
References
Primary Sources
1. O.S. Map 1830 Londonderry sh. 30
2. O.S. Map 1830 Rev. 1905 Londonderry sh. 30
3. Witherow, The Autobiography of Thomas Witherow 1824-1890 p.11, 117
4. Notes, 1st Survey, Built Heritage 5-33 Hill Street, Belfast
Criteria for listing: architectural interest
Not listed
Criteria for listing: historic interest
Not listed
Evaluation
Probably a mid 18th cent. Foundation but much altered and probably enlarged in 2nd half of the 19th cent. Has little architectural pretensions or character but is interesting in being the birthplace of Rev. Professor Thomas Witherow, former Presbyterian minister of Maghera and from 1866 Professor of Church History in Magee College, Londonderry.
Nearby in the register
- Water pumpPumpunder 1 mi
- Aughlish BridgeBridgeunder 1 mi
- Stone CirclesStanding Stoneunder 1 mi
- 154 Glenedra RoadHouseunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.