Estate Outbuildings.

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

This range of buildings formed a courtyard located some 50 metres west of the main complex and formerly contained four ranges of buildings of which only two now remain, that on the south west and north west The courtyard is a sunken area bound by the existing buildings and low stone walls.

The south west range consists of three bay long three storey high basalt built stone building with a two storey return. From the three storey part, a 1½ storey byre block continues in line to complete the range on that side of the courtyard. As the roadway approaches the south east gable of the three storey part it goes up an incline and a bridge is formed to give access to segmental arched double
doorway to the first floor. Above this doorway two windows light the roofspace and the gable terminates in a pedimented bellcote. Windows and door openings are formed in cut red brickwork. Basalt is roughly squared and coursed. Roof slated. The opening under the bridge is a segmental with sandstone voissoirs. At ground floor fronting onto the courtyard there are two single wooden doors with small fixed nine pane windows.

The two storey return has tall three centre arched openings on two sides, two of which on the gable have been built up and at the corner between these openings a massive buttress rising to first floor level. Above these large openings two casement windows on the south east side. The slated roof is hipped and on the north west side there is
a tall red brick factory chimney.

The 1½ storey byre continues for six bays and then turns at right angles to form another side of the grassed courtyard and is nine bays long. The wall construction and the openings are similar to that to the three storey block. The central bay has a sllight break front with brick pedidment which is the exterior wall of a dovecote.

The return range continues to the south east to form two storey two dwellings in similar construction but having 12 ground floor sash windows and first nine pane slilding sash windows. Each dwellilng has a redbrick chimney.

Formerly the grass courtyard was enclosed with building ranges and was originally cobbled.

Historical information

Situated within the parish of Ardmagilligan alias Tamlaghtard, the land of the Bellarena Estate was leased from the Bishop of Derry in 1603 by William Gage followed by John Gage and remained in this family though names changed through marriage to Heygates in 1851. The 4th Baronet died in 1976, and shortly after that the property and contents were sold. The present owners acquired the place in c 1990. The amount of land has been greatly reduced and apart from the major outbuildings, main gate lodge and the dispensary all other parts of the estate and tenants building including Bellarena School, have been acquired by others.

The Ordnance Survey Memoirs in 1835 record ‘Bellarena, the residence of Conolly Gage - the present dwelling house has been erected at two different periods: one part being built in 1797 and the other in 1822. The demesne is kept in the most exact order and with great taste. The garden and orchard consists of two acres and is in the highest state of cultivation and abounds with all kinds of fruits and flowers with extensive hothouses for grapes’. The work of 1797 was carried out by Marcus McCausland, son of the heiress of Bellarena, who changed his name to Gage. Conolly Gage created the library and manipulated the third floor at the rear of the house in 1822. In the late 1830s Charles Lanyon (1812-89) remodelled the hall, created the billiard room bay and remodelled the main reception rooms and added the projecting porch. All this at the request of Conolly Gage’s wife Henrietta whose sister Marianne, married to Marcus McCausland, had engaged the same Lanyon to rebuild Drenagh. The daughter of Conolly Gage, another Marianne, married Sir Frederick Heygate in 1851.

The clock tower, steeple and associated buildings are not indicated on the Ordnance Survey Sheet of 1831 nor are the outlying barn and byres nor cart shed. The rear entrance gate lodge (HB02/09/004) was built c1860 while the main gate lodge at Seacoast Road (HB02/09/002E)is around 1920 replacing a pair of gate lodges of 1797. The gates and railings were probably updated at this time. The land steward’s house, walled garden and viewing gazebo (now not within the present estate) are all pre 1831.

Sir John Heygate, 4th Bar’t was a novelist and journalist who married first Hon Evelyn, daughter of the Lord Burghclere who was first wife of Evelyn Waugh, writer.

References:

The Civil Survey 1654-56 Simington
Ordnance Survey Memoirs Vol. 11 p.85
A Guide to Irish Lodges of Ulster
Victorian Architecture Dixon & Muthesius
Buildings of North Derry by Girvan
Occupier (1997)
Historic Gardens Ref: L/029

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
D. Plan Form
H+. Alterations enhancing the building
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

V. Authorship
Z. Rarity

Evaluation

A good example of mid 19th century farm buildings. With the house it makes a fine group of estate structures.