The Chalet

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Formerly a single storey Victorian timber house with felt roof flanked by two, rendered square towers each two stories high with a pyramid roof. Presently the timber part of the building has been demolished and the two towers have been adapted into a modern house and garage.

Historical information

Built by Samuel Martin Macrory of Ardmore Lodge (HB02/08/014) for his wife in 1893. She had ill health and he thought that a building on an exposed hill would be good for this rather than the damp hollow of Ardmore Lodge. The timber building was a prefabricated kit imported from Scandinavia. In fact it was two kits built back to back. Because Macrory was connected with the new Dungiven to Limavady railway (opened in 1883) he had the train stop at the bottom of the field and deposit the timber. Cost for the kits £120. A painting of the building owned by the present occupants shows a shallow roofed structure with decorative front arcade and two gables projecting at each end with three decorative columns. Sash windows have shutters, the two towers sit behind but adjoining the building. The Chalet was still standing in 1983, it was demolished by the present occupants after they moved onto the site 13 years ago. The building was originally powered by electricity from Ardmore Flour Mill (HB02/08/016).

Reference:

Samuel Macrory Days that are Gone - (1983)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Once an unusual building with an interesting history connected with the improved communications of the Victorian era. Now largely gone and not suitable for listing.