Oakfort

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Detached multi-bay two-storey gabled stone and brick house, built c.1892. L-plan facing south set back on the west side of Moneydig Road within an extensive site having a range of outbuildings to the north.

Pitched natural slate roofs on an F-plan with terracotta ridge tiles and polychromatic brick chimneystacks with terracotta pots. UPVC rainwater goods to boxed eaves with plain bargeboards to all gables supported on timber brackets. Red brick walls laid in Flemish bond to the upper floor having a black and yellow flush brick course and yellow brick corners. Uncoursed squared and snecked basalt ashlar walling to ground floor below yellow brick drip course with basalt plinth course having a yellow brick trim. Gauged yellow brick camber-headed window openings and yellow brick surrounds with sandstone sills and original single-pane timber sash windows.

Asymmetrical front elevation is three windows wide with the left bay an advanced gable. Gauged yellow brick camber-headed door opening with yellow brick surround, on sandstone plinth blocks and replacement six-panel timber door having brass furniture and rectangular overlight.

Symmetrical east side elevation is four windows wide, paired to the ground floor.

Randomly placed windows to the rear elevation with a flush gabled bay to the right and a tall stairhall window. To the left is a recent glazed conservatory.

East side elevation comprises two full-height gables, one set behind the other.

Setting:

Located at the end of a winding bitmac drive through landscaped gardens with a turning island in front of the house. Rear yard is enclosed to the north by a range of high quality rubblestone outbuildings arranged around two courtyards. Largely built in coursed rock-faced basalt ashlar with red brick openings, the two-storey range built in red brick to the upper floor with a central integral carriage arch. Drive opens onto the road via set of rubblestone piers and curved wings.

Roof Natural slate
RWG UPVC
Walling Red brick / basalt ashlar
Windows Single-pane timber sash

Historical information

‘Oakfort’ (formerly known as Fort Cottage) is a substantial dwelling house with associated stable courtyard dating from 1892. Buildings are shown on the site on the first edition OS map of 1831-2, captioned ‘Fort Cottage’, and situated to the north east of an ancient rath or fort. A further structure had been added to the site by the second edition of 1849-53 but a new house and outbuildings were constructed in the 1880s/90s and valuer’s notes suggest that the old house and outbuildings were demolished at this time.

Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64) records the occupier as Hugh R Morrison, who leased the farm from the Marquess of Waterford. The old farmhouse was valued at £4 and was situated on a farm of over 59 acres. In 1884 a number of single and two-storey outbuildings were added to the plot and in 1892 a new house was built resulting in a rise in the valuation to £30. Hugh Rankin Morrison is recorded in the 1901 census as a farmer of 78 years, living with his wife and employing a domestic servant/cook, 25 year-old Peggy Dougherty. By 1911 Hugh Morrison was also a JP for County Derry. The twelve-room house was designated first class. The dwelling house continues in domestic use.

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/5/19/1 First Edition OS Map 1831-2
2. PRONI OS/6/5/19/2 Second Edition OS map 1849-53
3. PRONI OS/6/5/19/3 Third Edition OS Map 1904-5
4. PRONI OS/6/5/19/4 Fourth Edition OS Map 1924-27
5. PRONI VAL/1/B/54A-C Townland Valuation (1828-40)
6. PRONI VAL/12/B/30/6A-F Annual Revisions (1864-1929)
7. Griffith’s Valuation online
8. 1901/1911 census

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Detached multi-bay two-storey gabled stone and brick house, built c.1892. L-plan facing south set back on the west side of Moneydig Road within an extensive site. This is an unusual building within this area in both typology and appearance. The building appears to have been built as a late nineteenth-century model farm. This substantial residence in a rural setting it is not of sufficient architectural or historic interest to warrant listing.