Gate Lodge

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A single storey stone built gate lodge with basement and canted gable to Ballykelly Road. It has a pitched roof with hips faceted over canted bay. There is a single chimney with two pots in centre of structure. Three elevations are faced with sandstone ashlar work above entrance level and including canted bay. Walls below floor level are of random rubble schist which continues to the top of the rear wall. The roof recently reslated in dark asbestos slates has a large overhang. The lodge is three bays long with entrance door in side of canted bay. The building is devoid of any ornamentation, windows and door are boarded up. Gutters are ogee in black with one downpipe. The grounds are overgrown and falls away to rear to allow basement which has door only.

The lodge is sited at the beginning of long winding avenue to the hotel and adjacent to the Ballykelly Road.

Historical information

Lodge was built by Sir Francis McNaghten c1826 when he carried out improvements to Roe Park.

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. 9. Co Londonderry II. 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

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A late Georgian gate lodge of severe proportions looking rather forlorn at the entrance to Roe Park in its vacant state.
Nevertheless the walls are finished in ashlar sandstone, with random rubble below ground floor and to the entire rear wall.