Wheatfield House

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A 2½ storey red brick house 3 bays wide with large projecting brick flat roofed porch and widely spaced squat windows. It has a half hipped natural slated roof and is pleasantly situated among fine mature trees. It is surrounded on 2 sides by carefully nurtured gardens of some 2 acres in extent. The basement extends over the S W part of the building, the overall plan of the house being square. Behind the house lies an extensive range of outhouses, containing coach house, former dairy and sheephouses. The latter forms a single storey range at right angles to the coach house wing and thereby forming with the aid of a wall a grass square paddock in the centre of which there are 2 magnificent oak trees.

The style of the exterior of the house has been much altered by windows installed in the Edwardian period or even later and probably replaced georgian sliding sash type. Under the half hip at the side of the house is a curious pointed window with slender converging astragals.

The present owner thought the house was established c 1700 and much altered c 1900 with decorative glass installed. The porch was added by her husband. The red brick of the house is typical of the area and is built in in flemish bond. Gutters are cast iron in ogee profile changing to half round profile on the sides.

Historical information

Wheatfield was the residence of the Pattons in 1835 followed by the Hemphills and later the Moodys.

References: J E Mullin, The Presbyterian of Limavady
Owner (1997)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Small provincial house, originally Georgian in character but changed by casement type windows installed during Edwardian era. Neatly laid out outbuildings. Does not merit listing.

Good garden and fine mature trees.