Aghanloo House

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A two storey three bay house in the Georgian manner with central flat roofed porch and double pile back return. Three twelve pane sash windows at first floor of main south west elevation equally spaced. Two larger 12 pane sashes at ground floor with shallow arched head, one to each side of the porch. More pronounced arch to aligning window in centre of porch with victorian mullion spacing. Stone cornice to head of porch with no other decoration. Panelled door to north west side set in a simple recess. Large slate roof. P.V.C. rainwater goods. Two chimneys on ridge. Wall finish: painted harling on brick (breaking off around one window). Sandstone cills to windows.

North west gable with two windows to ground floor and first floor as described for front. Side hung casement window to attic. Two square head nine pane sash windows to each floor of lower return. Lean-to at back and brick piers to courtyard.

North east elevation reveals double pile of return with a small six pane sash at first floor aligning with the valley gutter. It is flanked by two nine pane sashes as before a little out of line with the ridges above. At ground floor a lean-to covers over half the facade with two square four pane sashes and a simple door in the south east gable. The remains of a pump abut the wall outside this door.

The south east elevation is similar to the north west.

The building is situated on rising ground above Aghanloo Church of Ireland Church. There is a brick gate house on the approach avenue(HB02/11/028) which splits into two roads nearer the building: one to the front; one to the courtyards. The concrete courtyard is surrounded by barn buildings, some in basalt with brick trim, all in bad shape. A two storey building was once servants quarters.

Historical information

The return is the earliest part of the house and was built by the Beresfords as a hunting lodge circa 1750. It was extended in 1789 after the house was transferred to the Church as a rectory. “By deed dated April 17th 1787 between Bishop, the rector and the 2nd Earl of Tyrone (G. Beresford) the Glebe lands were exchanged for other lands” Leslie. According to the owner the former rectory is high on the mountain behind and became the Beresford’s hunting lodge. This building is now an overgrown ruin. The building remained as a rectory until 1880 when it was sold to a Mr McLaughlin a builders’ merchant (responsible for building the chimney of Coleraine Distillery according to present owner). He sold it to Mr Daniels during the 1890s who rented out the building to three sisters called Forsyth who ran a small school in the building until the First World War. The Young family of Culdaff House bought the house in 1915.

References:
Leslie Derry Parishes & Clergy
Occupant (1997).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
H+. Alterations enhancing the building
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A pre 1830 building surviving in a reasonably unaltered form. Interesting for its earlier alterations when a standard two storey three bay glebe ‘type’ was attached to the existing double pile hunting lodge. The junction has been well disguised with bedroom fireplaces being used to provide the standard pair of chimneys on the ridge. The main chimneys normally in this position, are on the gable of the former lodge abutting the main roof. The interior is intact as are most of the surroundings, particularly the group of mature trees which enhance its setting.