Mansefield House

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A 1½ storey 4 bays wide house, rendered and painted with a single storey extension at the northern gable The house lies at a slight angle to the road as likewise the front boundary railings and gate as the main road has in the last 30 years been realigned and set back 10 metres or so. There is a pleasant lawn defined by clipped hedges. The off-centre open porch has a pitched roof and is supported on chamfered painted timber posts which rest on masonry blocks. The underside of the porch roof has rafters and sheeting exposed and is painted resembling more a church lychgate. The 4 panelled door has Tudor moulding echoing those on the dainty gate piers. Hood drip mouldings trim the square heads of the ground floor windows of the principal facade and the roof is punctuated with 2 dormers with good barge overhang, near the end window. All the windows on the front and gable have sliding sashes with 12 panes. The house has been extended to rear, tastefully, but the window character changes and all the roofs are slated with asbestos slates. Behind the house and parallel to it is a single storey returned slated barn now used as garage.

The Garden is divided into a series of spaces (one a former tennis court) separated by clipped hedges and a low boundary wall topped with decorative and neat cast iron railing with matching gate.

House was raised from single storey to present height c 1860. Evidence gained in replastered gable walls. Architect possibly George Given (1815-83).

Historical information

Possibly a former 18th century coaching house and later a Unitarian manse from 1859 and occupied by Reverend J A Newell 1873 to 1906. A Dr Maybury occupied the house up to 1913 and had surgery in single storey adjunct. Dr Matson, grandfather of present owner, took house in 1913.

References:
T H Mullin, Limavady and the Roe Valley
Owner (1997)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form

Criteria for listing: historic interest

V. Authorship
W. Northern Ireland/International Interest
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Charming mid-19th century style cottage, with good outhouse behind, sympathetically extended early in this century, with good garden, front boundary wall, railings and gates. The main road past the property has been realigned very successfully some 25 years ago.