The Lodge

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A two storey, three structural bay largely rebuilt , Georgian house, five windows wide, harled and rendered with a simple pediment to the central bay containing a circular window. Coloured glass in the window separated by curving mullions. Sashed Georgian windows to ground and first floor each 12 pane and aligning, those on the upper floor two thirds the height of those on the ground. Rendered chimney with four small pots to each gable, slate roof, modern barge boards. Central double door with rectangular fanlight is flanked by painted pilasters supporting an entablature broken by a central keystone brass lion head knocker and heavy fluted knob on door. Decorative kneeler stone in sand cement and painted at eaves of each gable.

The building sits in its own grounds at the south western end of Main Street. The entrance to the site was formerly the termination of the street (1830s) but this has been split into two plots destroying this composition. The house is set back 60 metres from the street line and is at a different angle facing almost due south. There are mature trees at the end of the garden aligning with those on Main Street.

To the west side of the house is a single storey sun lounge of modern construction but detailed to match the building in the Georgian manner. A steeply sloping slate roof rests on harled walls angled 45º at the corners. Large double glazed windows are subdivided by timber mullions to form a Georgian pattern. The top of the roof abutting the gable is flat. Above, two four pane sashes light the attic of the main house.

To the rear, the sun lounge returns as a glazed corridor with French windows to meet a single storey kitchen return. This has a pitched slate roof, harled walls, and modern casement windows to each side. The eastern part of the rear elevation has a glazed porch with flat roof across part of the facade and a tall Georgian window as the front to a major reception room inside. Other windows on this facade are Georgian sashes. The level of the single window to the central bay is lower to light the staircase behind. Three triple sashed dormers are equally spaced at eaves level.

To the eastern gable are two high level four pane Georgian sash windows. The ground adjacent is presently dug up to provide foundations for a new building (flats).

To the rear are the remains of stables and other out buildings, these are either converted into houses or used as a store.

Historical information

Building called New Hall shown on this site on 1699 map. It was owned by George Philips who at the time was selling the house and his estate to William Conolly, Speaker of the Irish House of Commons. The building was probably built as part of the rebuilding of Limavady after destruction during the 1641 rebellion. In 1742 New Hall was leased to Thomas Smith of Limavady after he had spent “£300 on building the house and improving the office houses”. This substantial renovation or even new build is probably responsible for the form of the present house. In 1802 Sampsons statistical survey describes a Mr Ross as living in ‘the Lodge’. This male was father of Miss Jane Ross who took down ‘The Londonderry Air’ in 1851 (see HB02/12/019). In 1806 the Conolly Estate in Limavady was sold to Robert Ogilby. In 1823 the Lodge was sold to Robert Conn a linen merchant from Limavady. Two officers of the first Ordnance Survey married his daughters. Mr R Fenwick and William Lancey married Isabella and Mary Conn. There is a Conn/Lancey grave stone in Christchurch (HB02/12/001). In 1881 S M McGrory bought the house. During his ownership part of the garden of the house was sold off providing a plot for the Masonic Hall which was commenced in 1900. This destroyed the formal relationship of the entrance gates to the demesne terminating the axis of Main Street. In this century the house was used for a time as a rectory before being bought by the Hunter family. They lived in the house until the late 1980s. For sale for a time in the early 1990s. A proposal for flats was submitted for approval in 1995. Its present owner renovated it as his family home in 1993.

ReferencePrimary Sources:
1699 Maps PRONI : T820 & T1654
OS Map 'Newtown Limavady' enlarged from 1st Edition Map (1831) PRONI: Val 2D/5/4 & T2933/4/126
OS Map 'Newtown Limavady' (1848 revision with notes of 1858 valuation) PRONI: 058/120/1/1 & T2933/3/140
OS Map ' Town of Limavady' (1895) PRONI:Val 2D/5/4 & 293/4/261
OS Map ' Town of Limavady' (1907) PRONI:058/120/2/3

Secondary Sources
D Girvan, 'The Buildings of north Derry' UAHS 1975 p9
TH Mullan 'Limavady and the Roe Valley' Limavady Council 1983
Occupant (1997)
Rev G V Sampson ' A Statistical Survey of Co Londonderry' Dublin 1802
Historic Buildings records

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

V. Authorship
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A simple and elegant mid-Georgian house with unusual and finely executed interior decoration. Of significant local importance to Limavady because of its historical role in the development of the town and for its architectural relationship to Main Street. The B2 grade arises out of the fact that much of the building internally and externally is new.