Camus House

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A symmetrical two-storey three-bay detached house and range of outbuildings; predating 1830, possibly of seventeenth-century origin, built on the site of the former Camus monastery, to the west side of Curragh Road, south of Coleraine. Plan comprises rectangular main block abutted to rear by two-storey lean-to extension and lower perpendicular rectangular block.

Pitched natural slate roof with leaded ridges and replacement red-brick chimneystacks to gables, having two tall clay pots. Cast-iron half-round rainwater goods on drive-in brackets with cast-iron hopper and downpipes. Walling is beach-pebbledashed to main elevation; roughcast render to remainder. Windows are timber sash with horns with projecting painted sills; 6/3 at first floor and 6/6 at ground floor. Replacement timber-framed multi-paned casements to rear block.

The principal elevation faces northwest and is five openings wide, symmetrically arranged about an elliptical-headed central doorcase. Replacement four-panelled timber door having bronze knocker with Egyptian head, surmounted by original timber spider-web fanlight and flanked by replacement leaded lattice and stained glass sidelights on moulded panels with scalloped detailing. Door accessed by step laid with modern black square tiles.

The northeast gable of main block has window at first floor left.

The southeast (rear) elevation is almost entirely abutted by the lean-to extension; exposed section to left is blank. Lean-to extension has, at left cheek, sixteen-paned casement window at first floor and four-paned window at ground floor; right cheek has four-paned window at first floor. Lean-to extension is fully abutted by the perpendicular rectangular block which has been altered with enlarged openings and replacement fenestration throughout; replacement timber-sheeted entrance door to northeast gable, accessed via a modern tiled step to ground floor right.

The southwest gable has a window at first floor right.

Setting:

Situated on a mature site in an unspoiled rural
setting to the west side of the River Bann and south of Coleraine. Built on the site of the medieval Camus monastery, and incorporating the burial ground at east which contains a portion of the early medieval Camus cross. Entrance from Curragh Road to east leads past the burial ground to a large gravelled yard to side of house, flanked to north and south by a range of outbuildings with corrugated tin roofs. Directly to northeast of house, running at a ninety-degree angle, is a two-storey two-bay gabled servants-quarter block. Detailed in similar style as the main house, with corrugated tin roof, central replacement red brick chimneystack and cast-iron half-round rainwater goods. Variety of timber casement windows and a timber-sheeted entrance door to northeast elevation; timber-sheeted door at southeast gable. The interior is divided into two rooms at ground and first floor covered with a tin roof on sawn timber purlins and rafters. Walls are plastered and painted. Concrete flooring to ground floor, plywood timber sheeting at first floor. First floor is accessed by a set of replacement timber steps running up northeast wall upon entry. Open hearth to southwest wall of kitchen with projecting flue at first floor.

Red brick outbuilding to south of yard has metal casement windows and timber-sheeted doors to large openings; abutted at east gable by a slated extension (lower). To north side of yard is a roughcast rendered stable block, containing five timber-sheeted half-doors with cast-iron strap hinges and four six-paned timber casements window; at left is a modern garage opening. To southwest of house is a refurbished two-storey roughcast rendered barn with corrugated tin roof. Lawned garden to front of house with a variety of mature trees, enclosed to east by a painted rubblestone garden wall with round-headed cast-iron latch gate. Original wrought-iron latch gate supported on a sand lime square pier to south. To west are two wrought-iron farm-gates to adjoining farmland, one with a single rubblestone round pier.

Roof: Natural slate
Walling: Beach-peddldashed and roughcast render
Windows: Timber sash with horns
RWG: Cast-iron

Historical information

Camus House, originally known as Camus Cottage was built at a bend in the river Bann (Camus signifying ‘river bend’ in Gaelic) is of Georgian appearance but occupies a site that has been in use for centuries as an ecclesiastical centre. A house and outbuildings are shown on the site on the first edition OS map of 1830, with the ‘Ruins of a Church’ captioned nearby. On the second edition of 1849-50 the dwelling is captioned ‘Camus Ho[use]’ and a ‘Grave Yard’ is also captioned. Some of the outbuildings depicted on early maps appear to have survived.

In 1777 a decendent, also named James Hemphill, reside there, in which year only two roads of approach to the monastery and church were in existence, one being a bridle path along the bank of the River Bann and the other commencing at the south gate of the graveyard (not the present one), and leading nearly due south to the townland of Ballintaggart.

The site is of considerable antiquity and a Christian community is said to have been established here in the sixth century, not long after Christianity was introduced to Ireland in the early fifth century. Surviving in the churchyard beside Camus House is part of an early medieval high cross, said to depict the twelve apostles and probably dating from the late 9th to early 10th centuries. (Rowan; OS Memoirs) A Cistercian abbey was founded here by the O’Cahans, chieftains of the lands now known as Londonderry, in around 1218, which was succeeded by a medieval parish church and graveyard. (Rowan) It is not clear whether early fabric has been retained in any of the structures still on the site. In the 1830s part of the foundation of the eastern gable of the old church still survived on the site but the church ceased to be used when services were transferred to Macosquin in the early seventeenth century (OS Memoirs).

The graveyard contains the family resting places of the Hemphills and McFarlands as well as several other tombs and gravestones, the names on which are listed in OS Memoirs. The earliest tombstone recorded in the 1830s was that of John Hunter inscribed 1693. The graveyard continued to be used by local families including one Catholic family, the McCarrons, well into the nineteenth century.

OS Memoirs state that the present house was originally built in 1685 by James Hemphill who resided there for many years. The house was subsequently repaired and enlarged by other members of the family and by the 1830s the occupier was James McFarland who operated a bleaching partnership with the Hemphills and Hunters. (OS Memoirs) The Townland Valuation of 1828-40 values the house at £15.

Griffith’s Valuation lists the occupier as Rev John Martin who leases the property from Thomas Bennett. The house and outbuildings are valued at £18. In 1875 the occupiers were Robert and John Nelson and then in 1877, William Black, the valuation of the farmhouse dropping to £15 the same year. The valuation continued to drop over the years and in 1898 the valuation was further reduced to £9 due to the dilapidated condition of the house and the outbuildings. At the time of the 1901 census the occupier was Edward D Smyth, a farmer who lived with his wife and employed a man of 73 as an agricultural labourer. The seven-room house was designated first class. By 1911 the occupier was Samuel Nimock and his sister, the pair employing a farm servant of 33. (1901, 1911 census)

In 1914 the farm was purchased by John McKee and in 1922 he built two new outbuildings which later added £5 to the valuation. These outbuildings, for pigs, were erected towards the east of the site. Further outbuildings were put up in the 1930s. Valuation records of this period give a plan of the farm and associated structures showing stabling, a cart house, hayshed, piggery and cattle shed. The accommodation comprised, on the ground floor: two receptions, a breakfast room, kitchen, scullery and pantry and on the first floor: four bedrooms and a maid’s room. Water was obtained from a pump in the yard.

In 1952 the house passed to John McKee’s son-in-law, James C King, who built the fieldstone fireplace in the living room. The house was listed in 1977 and renovated in the early 1980s. (HB file)

Camus House continues to be a family home. (Irish American Post May/June 2002)

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/5/7/1 First Edition OS Map 1830
2. PRONI OS/6/5/7/2 Second Edition OS map 1849-50
3. PRONI OS/6/5/7/3 Third Edition OS Map 1904
4. PRONI OS/6/5/7/4 Fourth Edition OS Map 1923
5. PRONI OS/6/5/7/5 Fifth Edition OS Map 1949
6. PRONI VAL/1/B/59 Townland Valuation (1828-40)
7. PRONI VAL/12/A/5/2– Valuer’s Notes (1898)
8. PRONI VAL/12/A/5/10– Valuer’s Notes (1922)
9. PRONI VAL/12/B/30/20A-F Annual Revisions (1864-1929)
10. PRONI VAL/3/C/6/3 First General Revaluation 1933-57
11. PRONI VAL/3/D/6/3/V/2First General Revaluation 1933-57
12. Griffith’s Valuation online
13. 1901/1911 census
14. HB file – 03/03/004
15. Irish American Post May/June 2002

Secondary Sources
1. Day, A., P. McWilliams, English L., eds. “OS Memoirs of Ireland, Parishes of County Londonderry VI, 1831, 1833, 1835-6, Vol. 22.” Belfast: Institute of Irish Studies, 1993.
2. Rowan, A “The Buildings of Ireland: North West Ulster” Penguin, 197
3. Ulster Journal of Archaeology - Vol 2 - 1905

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
H-. Alterations detracting from building
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

R. Age
S. Authenticity
T. Historic Importance
V. Authorship
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Camus House is a symmetrical two-storey three-bay detached house with a range of outbuildings; pre-dating 1830. It may well contain the core of the original house built by James Hemphill in 1685 which was built on the site of the former Camus monastery, to the west side of Curragh Road, south of Coleraine. Its Georgian architectural detailing is largely intact and the original proportions have been retained, preserving its character. Built on the site of a medieval monastery and incorporating within its grounds a medieval burial ground with a portion of a standing stone cross, the significance of the setting is further enhanced by an unspoiled outlook, a range of well-preserved outbuildings and some fine examples of Georgian wrought and iron metal-work. A good example of a well proportioned farmhouse in a picturesque setting, Camus House makes an important contribution to the historic landscape of the district and is of significant historic interest.

General comments

Listing Criteria R - Age; S - Authenticity and T - Historic Importance also apply.