Roe Park (Radisson Hotel)

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

The Roe Park House of the late Georgian period is almost swallowed up by its latest development as a large luxury hotel. The simplicity of its former arrangement is immersed in the complexity of the varied hotel functions. The main hotel entrance directs visitors to the new reception located in what was originally the rear/side of Roe Park. Nevertheless the salient front part of the house has been cleverly absorbed functionally into the new while retaining its former enjoyment of an uninterrupted panorama of the Roe River, the town of Limavady beyond and the profile of Benevenagh ,Keady , Donal's Hill and Benbradagh in the distance.
The core of the Georgian house retained consists of a long two storey elevation of some 14 bays with the two storey semi-circular projecting bay of the former main entrance placed slightly asymmetrically. Each gable forms a full width canted bay with windows in each facet. Walls are smooth rendered and painted cream as is all the new work except where the stone walls of the former out-houses are kept. The roof has natural slates with neat curved slating to the semi-circular bay. There is also retained a back return at the former dining room end. The fenestration is a bit of a mish-mash because of the varied extensions during its early life.

In the early 18th century, the house probably began as a five bay double pile two storey house with semi-circular projecting entrance hall not unlike the arrangement at Ashbrook near Derry. Some additions were made in 1730 and later in 1782 a dining room was added at the south east end with back return and out-houses and offices built. Because greater height was desired for the dining room first floor levels varied and window heads varied. In 1826 a large drawing room was added at the other end to balance the facade though not quite in that the elevation was now one bay longer than that on the other side of the entrance hall. The same solution in floor levels and window arrangements was maintained presumably to give a balanced but odd effect. The two storey stone built brick trimmed out-house ranges have been more or less successfully retained though adapted to their new functions. One wing has been replaced by new build but the integrity of the courtyard survives. The coach house arches keep their profile and are cleverly adapted to suit new floor levels and ceiling heights. The former varied roof profiles are retained with louvred vents. Diocletian windows are retained as well as passage through the south range from present car park to courtyard. The courtyard has been pleasantly landscaped and land differences carefully handled.

The former principal entrance to the house has been kept with its ¾ engaged circular columns with neat bases, decorative echinus, entablature and moulded frieze. It is unfortunate that an emergency light has to be placed in the middle of the small tympanum. The Georgian sash windows on ground and first floor have been kept intact as also the chimney stacks and slated roofs.

The extensive grounds successfully keep their earlier character at least around the buildings. The walled garden has been converted to a golf driving rangeand has lost one length of wall but retains two crenellated gazebos placed diagonally opposite each other. The golf course does not impinge too greatly on the landscape. The long winding avenue from Ballykelly Road maintains its character.

To the west of the building complex is the Monument LDY-9:6 Known as Drumceatt

Historical information

Land granted to Thomas Phillips in 1610 acquired by William Conolly, Speaker of the Irish House of Commons and Commissioner of Revenue c1700. Leased to Captain Babington when demesne was called Mullagh and he built the house c1704.

Marcus McCausland occupied demesne and house and added to it c1730 and changed name to Daisyhill. Dominick McCausland occupied it and c1782 built the dining room, out-houses and offices and the wooden bridge across the Roe, the architect of which was M Ferguson assisted by David McBlain. The bridge was destroyed and rebuilt in 1801.

John Cromie acquired the property n 1817 and embellished the wooden bridge in 1826 which had a clear span of 70 feet. Sir Francis McNaghten had the property in 1826 and built the fine drawing room and the entire front façade. It now had a length of 140 feet. He also built the gate lodge. His son Edward McNaghten was there in 1835.

In 1847 Archibald Rennie of Inverness took the demesne succeeded by Harvey Nicholson of Derry in 1850. S M Alexander acquired the property in 1872. Alexander’s daughter married a Frenchman E F Ritter whose family retained it until 1951 when it was acquired for use as an old peoples home. The present owners bought the site in the mid 1980s and after an £8m adaptation commenced business as a 60 bedroom hotel, conference and golf centre in 1995. The architects were Hobart & Heron of Belfast and the builder David Patton & Sons Ltd of Ballymena.

References:Primary Sources:
OS Map 1st Edition 1831 Co Londonderry 10

Secondary Sources
D Girvan, 'The Buildings of north Derry' UAHS 1975 p21
Ordnance Survey Memoirs Vol. 25. QUB 1995.
Lewis Topographical Dictionary Vols I & ll
Bence-Jones - A Guide to Irish Country Houses
T H Mullin -' Limavady and the Roe Valley' Limavady Council 1983

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
H-. Alterations detracting from building

Criteria for listing: historic interest

V. Authorship
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

The surviving Georgian part of the house has good styling, pleasing proportions and in spite of the length and window disposition presents a handsome facade. The interplay of semi-circular entrance bay and the canted gables is good.