Knocktarna

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A symmetrical three-bay two-storey-over-partial-basement detached rendered house with outbuildings, built c. 1830 and situated on large grounds on the north bank of the River Bann, south of Coleraine town centre. Rectangular on plan with two-storey canted bays and projecting porch to front; three two-storey gabled returns to rear.

Hipped natural slate roof with leaded ridges and hips. Rendered chimneystacks with moulded caps. Ovolo-moulded sandstone eaves with aluminium rainwater goods. Walling is ruled-and-lined render on a sandstone plinth with ashlar sandstone porch. Windows are 6/6 timber sash without horns in simple reveals with projecting sandstone sills (diminished at first floor); 8/8 timber sash to basement; 2/2 timber sash to rear.

Symmetrically arranged southwest-facing front has two-storey canted bays flanking central entrance bay; window at first floor over projecting flat-roof porch. Porch has replacement panelled-and-glazed entrance door flanked by four-pane sidelights; surmounted by four decorative scrolled console brackets and a central carved festoon; accessed by a single sandstone step. Porch lit to left and right cheek by six-pane timber window insertions with scrolled consoles over.

The northwest elevation has three evenly-spaced windows to ground and first floor and a window to basement.

The northeast (rear) elevation is abutted by the gabled returns and is lit by a window at each floor to either side of central return. Left gable is further abutted by rendered lean-to extension with slate roof, bipartite 4/4 timber window and a panelled-and-glazed timber door to northeast. Left and right gables are lit to southeast and northwest respectively by 2/2 windows at each floor; half-panelled timber door to basement at northwest. Central gable is lit at left cheek by two windows at each floor; right cheek has two 2/2 windows and a panelled-and-glazed timber door. Basement accessed via a set of concrete steps to left side of central gable, enclosed by a rendered wall with saddleback stone coping.

The southeast elevation has two evenly-spaced windows at each floor.

Setting:

Situated on large mature grounds to the south side of Mountsandel Road with a variety of mature trees, overlooking the River Bann to southwest. Accessed via a tree-lined avenue from Mountsandel Road leading to tarmacadamed concourse at front of house and enclosed tarmacadamed rear yard. Two-and single-storey rubblestone outbuildings to yard have slate roofs and red brick surrounds to openings. Two-storey coach-house to northeast has four evenly-spaced eight-paned metal casement windows to first floor over eight large replacement timber-sheeted garage doors at ground floor. Single-storey block to southeast has two sets of replacement timber-sheeted garage doors, one of which is set into an elliptical-headed arch-head. Right section is higher and has six-pane timber window and replacement timber-sheeted door opening onto yard; southwest gable has been rendered and contains a modern half-panelled timber door with sidelight. To northeast, abutting gabled return to house, is a two-storey Flemish-bonded red-brick slated outbuilding, having two evenly-spaced 4/4 timber windows with margin panes, projecting stone sills and red-brick voussoirs at first floor, over central elliptical-headed arched opening (containing modern oil tank). Yard enclosed to northwest by a tall rubblestone wall (painted to southwest face); accessed from northwest by a set of tall rubblestone square piers with sandstone caps, supporting cast-iron gates. Original cobbles to basement channel.

There is a gate screen at the entrance on Mountsandel Road - dwarf, curved, sandstone wall and and coping with cast iron railings and gates.

Roof: Natural Slate
Walling: Ruled-and-lined render
Windows: Generally 6/6 timber sash without horns
RWG: Aluminium

Historical information

‘Knocktarna’, formerly known as ‘Knockantern House’ is shown on the first edition OS map of 1830 with outbuildings to the rear (still present), forming two sides of a stable courtyard. By the second edition of 1849-50, the building, now captioned ‘Knockantern Ho[use]’ had acquired a rear return and the third edition (1904) sees further additions and remodelling.

Knockantern House was the seat of Hugh Lyle Esq, linen merchant and Mayor of Coleraine and was built in the early nineteenth century. (Rowan; OS Memoirs) The Townland Valuation of 1828-40 lists the dwelling house and offices at £34. The occupier is Hugh Lyle Esq and the house continued to pass down through the Lyle family for some years. OS Memoirs record that a school was established in an outbuilding at Knockantern in 1835, catering for 18 pupils. The Lyles contributed towards the running of the school and the mistress resided in the house. Books were supplied by the London Hibernian Society and the Authorised Version of scripture was taught. (OS Memoirs)

At the time of the 1901 census, the occupiers were the elderly Rev John Lyle and his wife who lived with their two daughters, their daughter-in-law and granddaughter. The household included a substantial staff of six including a nurse and a groom. The 25-room house was designated first class. Rev John Lyle was still at the house, aged 95, in 1911 and completed the census form in his own hand. His slightly reduced staff included a cook, housemaid, kitchen maid and butler. (1901, 1911 census)

At the time of the First General Revaluation in the 1930s the accommodation comprised, on the ground floor: four receptions, two servants’ bedrooms, a servants’ bathroom, servants’ WC and a pantry. In the basement were the servants’ hall, box room, dairy, wine cellars, store, kitchen, scullery and pantry and on the first floor, six bedrooms, a dressing room, two servants’ bedrooms, a bathroom and two WCs.

In the 1930s the house was heated by radiators and lighting was supplied by an acetylene gas plant on the premises. The gardens included a ‘rough’ lawn, 1½ acres of vegetable and fruit garden, ½ acre rough garden and 2 acres of orchard. There was also a grass tennis court. In 1948 a single-storey addition was made to the rear and the house was redecorated internally. The house passed to Fred W Young in 1952 and subsequently became the Vice-Chancellor’s Lodge for the University of Ulster. (Rowan; Valuation records)

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/539A-B Townland Valuation (1828-40)
7. PRONI VAL/2/B/5/10 Griffiths Valuation (1861)
8. PRONI VAL/12/B/30/17A-H Annual Revisions (1864-1929)
9. PRONI VAL/3/C/6/18 First General Revaluation 1933-57
10. PRONI VAL/3/D/6/8/A/5 First General Revaluation 1933-57
11. 1901/11 census online

Secondary Sources

1. Day, A., P. McWilliams, English L., eds. “OS Memoirs of Ireland, Parishes of County Londonderry XII, 1829-30, 1832, 1834-6, Vol. 33.” Belfast: Institute of Irish Studies, 1995.
2. Rowan, A “The Buildings of Ireland: North West Ulster” Penguin, 1979

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

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

Criteria for listing: historic interest

R. Age
S. Authenticity
Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Knocktarna House is a symmetrical three-bay two-storey-over-partial-basement detached rendered house with outbuildings, built c. 1830 and situated on large grounds on the north bank of the River Bann, on the outskirts of Coleraine. Displaying proportions and detailing typical of the period, characterised by restrained and plain detailing, this is a well-preserved example of a typical early-Victorian country house. Set on large grounds, the rather austere character of the house is significantly enhanced by a group of well-preserved rubblestone and red-brick outbuildings, good quality gate screen, and an unspoiled natural setting with views over the River Bann. Of local interest, Knocktarna House makes a significant contribution to the architectural character and quality of Coleraine district.

General comments

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