Parochial House

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A 1½ storey handmade red brick house with sandstone quoins, sandstone trim to doors and windows, ground floor central bay mostly in sandstone, dormer window, sandstone plinth course, single storey extension, enclosed yard with outhouse beyond dwelling. The roofs, asbestos slated, are a curious mixture of gables, hip and ½ hip. Windows punctuate gables and over the sandstone heads there is an odd shaped relieving arch in polychrome brickwork. There have been some alterations and extensions. The entrance door has been moved one bay and its original position made into a window. A small lean-to roof now shelters the door. To the south a single storey extension with ½ hip roof added built in brick and openings trimmed in sandstone. Some chimneys have been removed (2 No.). A window in the single storey back return built up and left as a blank. The original natural slates were banded and there was ridge cresting. A velux window has been inserted in the roof above the main entrance. Windows have been changed from timber sliding sashes with single horizontal astragal to uPVC top hung.

Historical information

The house was erected during the administration of Reverend Bernard McGurk, who was there from September 1863 to January 1880. At that time Magilligan was part of the Limavady parish. The house cost £1,200 to build. The architect may have been John O’Neill (1828-83) who was carrying out designs in the diocese prior to the advent of Croome and Toye.

Reference:

Souvenir Booklet, Limavady Bazaar 1929.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Example of smaller rural residence in mid-Victorian style. Alterations degrade architectural quality beyond point where listing would be appropriate.