14 School Lane

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Semi-detached two-bay one-and-a-half-storey stone house, built c.1870, as one of a pair (HB03/12/009A). Located along the north side of School Lane to the south of Castlerock and to the east of Downhill Demesne.

Pitched natural slate roof with roll-moulded black clay ridge tiles and single brick chimneystack with black clay pots to the west. Decorative timber bargeboard to sheeted overhanging eaves to the east gable only. Ogee-moulded cast-iron guttering supported on timber fascia with sheeted overhanging eaves and replacement metal downpipes. Random coursed rock-faced basalt ashlar walling with tooled sandstone ashlar quoins. Stop-chamfered sandstone ashlar window surrounds and sandstone sills with 2/2 timber sash windows (unless otherwise stated).

Front south elevation is two windows wide with a door opening to the east. Square-headed window openings with tooled stop-chamfered block-and-start sandstone ashlar surrounds having 2/2 timber sash windows with angled horns.

West gable abutted by adjoining house No.12 (HB03/12/009A).

Rear elevation is abutted by a single-storey extension, built c.2011, in rock-faced basalt with timber sash windows, sandstone sills and glazed timber patio doors to the rear gable.

East side elevation has a single window opening to the attic-storey with stop-chamfered sandstone window surround, sandstone sill and replacment timber casement window.

Setting
Located on the north side of School Lane to the south of Castlerock village and to the east of the Downhill Demesne.

Roof Natural slate
RWG Cast-iron
Walling Random coursed rock-faced basalt ashlar
Windows Timber sash

Historical information

This semi-detached pair of rubble basalt houses dates from c1870 and is first shown on the third edition OS map of 1904. The building enters valuation records in the fieldbook dating from between 1864 and 1873, but the entry is undated. Both houses are valued at £3, but this was reduced to £2 in 1887. The rent for each cottage was recorded as 1s weekly in 1887.

The dwellings appear to have been a small building project of Sir Henry Hervey Bruce, third Baronet Downhill and may have been intended to serve as teachers’ accommodation for the nearby Downhill School, although no teachers are recorded as having lived there. In 1871 the third Baronet bought out the Clothworkers’ property in the area, becoming the largest landowner and thereafter taking a particular interest in the development of Castlerock as well as rebuilding Downhill Castle after a serious fire. (Eccles)

The first occupier to be noted in the current house c1870 was William Lyons, land steward to the Bruce family. Lyons moved to Black Glen Lodge c1885 and was followed by John Hawkins (1883) and then James Forrest (1886)

At the time of the 1901 census Margaret Jane Forrest was a widow of 78 who lived with her daughter employed as a domestic servant, most likely at Downhill House. Another daughter was a seamstress and a son was a farm servant. The four room house was designated second class. By 1911 the house had passed to Scotsman, George Alexander Reid who was a golf greenkeeper who lived with his wife and seven children. Castlerock golf links of 9 holes was formally inaugurated in June 1901 on land placed at the disposal of the club by the Bruce family. The golf course was a success and in 1909 was expanded to eighteen holes. (www.castlerockgc.co.uk)

A succession of tenants followed and the First General Revaluation of the early 1930s gives dimensions for the cottages. Accommodation is listed as a kitchen and room on the ground floor and two bedrooms on the upper floor. The rent for the current dwelling was 10s per month.

The house was listed in 1977 and the rear extension was rebuilt c2010. (HB file)

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/5/2/1 First Edition OS Map 1831
2. PRONI OS/6/5/2/2 Second Edition OS map 1848
3. PRONI OS/6/5/2/3 Third Edition OS Map 1904
4. PRONI OS/6/5/2/4 Fourth Edition OS Map 1923
5. PRONI VAL/12/B/30/10A-F Annual Revisions (1864-1929)
6. PRONI VAL/3/C/6/2 First General Revaluation 1933-57
7. PRONI VAL/3/D/6/3/H/5 First General Revaluation 1933-57
8. HB file – 03/12/009A-B
9. 1901 census
10. 1911 census

Secondary Sources

1. Eccles, J “Downhill, A Scrapbook of People and Place” London: Bath Press, 1996
2. Girvan, W D “Historic Buildings, Groups of Buildings, Areas of Architectural Importance in North Derry including Limavady, Ballykelly, Castlerock, Downhill and Magilligan” Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1975
3. www.castlerockgc.co.uk

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest
R. Age
S. Authenticity
U. Historic Associations

Evaluation

Semi-detached two-bay one-and-a-half-storey stone house, built c.1870, as one of a pair (HB03/12/009A). Located along the north side of School Lane to the south of Castlerock and to the east of Downhill Demesne. A modestly scaled semi-detached pair of houses built as part of the Downhill Demesne to provide accommodation for the nearby Downhill School (HB03/12/010). Currently undergoing renovations, the house retains its original external appearance and interior planform and contributes to the heritage of the Castlerock area.

General comments

Additional listing criteria apply - R - Age, S- Authenticity, U- Historic Associations.