30 Springvale Lane

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Detached multi-bay two-storey rendered house, built in stages ranging from c.1800 to 1860. Irregular on plan facing east with a three-bay single-storey house to the north, built c.1800, a single-bay two-storey block to the centre, built c.1820, and perpendicular larger single-bay two-storey block to the south, built c.1860. Located to the west of Springvale Lane in a mature landscaped
setting accessed via winding gravel drive with single-storey stone outbuildings forming an informal yard to the north.

Natural slate roofs throughout, pitched to the north block with black clay ridge tiles, cast-iron guttering on iron drive-through brackets to brick eaves course and a single rendered brick chimneystack to the north gable. The central block has a half-hipped roof with rolled lead ridges to the hips, black clay ridge tiles, replacement moulded steel guttering and a tall rendered chimneystack to centre of plan. Hipped roof to the south block with rolled lead ridges, two rendered profiled chimneystacks to the north wall, replacement moulded steel guttering supported on deep overhanging boarded eaves having decorative timber brackets with drop finials and cast-iron downpipes. Limewashed lime render walling to the north block with cement repairs to the front elevation only. Ruled-and-lined cement rendered walling to the central and south blocks with rusticated render quoins, vermiculated to the ground floor only and moulded render plinth course to the south block. Square-headed window openings (unless otherwise stated) with painted masonry sills and timber sash windows.

Single-bay front elevation to the south block of considerably larger proportions than the remainder having a full-height three-sided canted bay window, continuous render platband between floors and moulded architrave surrounds to both windows. Horizontally-glazed 2/2 timber sash windows to the ground floor having angled horns, those to the first floor having margin panes. The lower central block is stepped back slightly from the south block and abutted by a veranda having natural slate roof, hipped to the north with rolled lead ridge, cast-iron guttering and supported on three slender timber posts. To the first floor is a 6/6 timber sash window with angled horns and a tripartite window with horizontally-glazed 2/2 timber sashes. Square-headed door opening to the left having moulded architrave surround, four-panel timber door with bolection mouldings, arched upper panels, brass door furniture, rectangular overlight and opening onto granite platform and two granite steps. The single-storey north block has a symmetrical front elevation with a central square-headed door opening with salvaged flat-panelled timber door with rectangular overlight and early tripartite windows to either side with 6/6 central sashes flanked by 4/4 sashes, all without horns and some historic glass.

The south elevation of the south block is four windows wide, square-headed to the ground floor and segmental-headed to the first floor. All windows are horizontally-glazed 2/2 timber sashes with angled horns, those to the first floor having margin lights. First floor windows have render keystones while ground floor windows have moulded architrave surrounds with vermiculated keystones and sill brackets.

The rear west elevation to the south block is detailed as per front elevation. The central block is stepped back from the south block and abutted by a lean-to rear entrance porch. A single replacement timber casement window with concrete sills to each floor with projecting render surrounds and a replacement timber sheeted door to the porch. The north side elevation to the central block is abutted by a two-storey extension with riveted water tank to the roof and a further lean-to projection.

The rear elevation to the single-storey block is abutted by a lean-to projection having a timber sheeted door, with diminutive square-headed window openings having bipartite timber casement windows and no sills.

The north gable to the single-storey block has a pair of square-headed window openings to the attic level (now boarded up) and a square-headed door opening with a replacement timber door.

Setting
Set back on the west side of Springvale Lane within mature landscaped grounds and accessed via a winding gravel drive passing a duck-pond. The single-storey block has a front garden enclosed by rubblestone walls and wrought-iron gates. To the north of the house is an informal yard with some early cobbles (abutting the north block) enclosed by single-storey rubblestone outbuildings having pitched natural slate roofs and timber sheeted doors. The outbuilding to the north of the yard has segmental-headed redbrick door linings. Some original wrought-iron gates remain with rubblestone walls enclosing a rear access lane running to the northeast.

Roof Natural slate
RWG Cast-iron
Walling Ruled-and-lined cement render
Windows Timber sash

Historical information

Springvale dates from c.1863 but incorporates buildings that represent a progression from early vernacular farmhouse to Georgian farmhouse to Victorian villa. Unusually both the former incarnations of the farmhouse have been retained as returns to the present villa. The vernacular structure is of uncertain date, perhaps c1800, while the Georgian farmhouse would appear stylistically to date from c1820.

An L-shaped structure is shown on the first edition of 1831-2 which appears to correspond to the two buildings constituting the present-day return to the house and comprising a vernacular dwelling and a more formalised farmhouse of Georgian proportions. Some of the outbuildings still present on the site also appear to be survivals from this early period. The Townland Valuation of 1828-40 records the occupier as ‘Mr Grier’ giving a valuation of £6.16s to the buildings.

Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64) shows that Samuel Greer leased the farm from the Worshipful Company of Clothworkers. The house and outbuildings were valued at £11.18s and were situated on a farm of over 89 acres. Between 1862 and 1864 a new mansion was constructed and the valuation consequently rose to £21.18s. The Belfast Newsletter records that the Worshipful Company of Clothworkers established an estate farming society in 1867 which held a ploughing match in one of the fields at Spring Vale that same year. Twenty-two competitors competed for prizes adding up to £10, a special prize of a silver tea-pot and coffee-pot being awarded for the best turn-out. (Belfast Newsletter)

Samuel McCurdy Greer was an MP and County Court Judge who also owned a house in Gardiner’s Place Dublin where he was accustomed to spend the winter. He was a son of Thomas Greer, minister of Dunboe Presbyterian Church from 1802 to 1812 and lived with his brother Joseph McCurdy Anderson JP who continued to live at the house after Samuel’s death. Samuel Greer had a numerous family who were all remembered in his will, one of his sons in particular he wished to choose ’any one of the horses then in use or being reared at Springvale’. (Will of Samuel Greer; History of Congregations) Greer was a staunch liberal and champion of tenants’ rights who ran for parliament and beat Sir Henry Hervey Bruce, third baronet Downhill for one of the Londonderry seats in 1857. (Eccles)

In 1885 the house passed to James Watson who sub-let the main dwelling to Samuel Greer’s brother, Joseph McCurdy Anderson, while living in the ‘old house’ to the rear. The same year there is a slight rise in the valuation of the holding to £22.18s, suggesting some remodelling may have taken place. Joseph Anderson is recorded in the 1901 census as a 74-year-old bachelor of private means who kept a live-in general domestic servant. The 11-room house was designated first-class. In 1908 the house and the ‘old house’ at the rear passed to John Mark who was present at the time of the 1911 census. John Martin Mark, solicitor, lived with his wife, three young children, his mother-in-law, sister-in-law, two teenage domestic servants and a farm servant.

The houses are subsequently treated as one and were taken over by Richard Duggan in 1918, passing down through the Duggan family at least until the 1930s. Valuer’s notes give a plan of the farmhouse and rear returns and a number of outbuildings, largely of rubble masonry with tin roofs. The accommodation comprised, on the ground floor, a kitchen, pantry and two receptions and on the first floor four bedrooms, two receptions, a bathroom and WC.

The house was listed in 1977 and renovations took place in the 1990s. (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/1/B/55B Townland Valuation (1828-40)
6. PRONI Printed Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64)
7. PRONI VAL/12/B/30/3A-F Annual Revisions (1864-1929)
8. PRONI VAL/3/C/6/1 First General Revaluation 1933-57
9. PRONI VAL/3/D/6/3/C/4 First General Revaluation 1933-57
10. PRONI Will of Samuel Greer, died 3rd November 1880
11. HB file – 03/12/029
12. Belfast Newsletter 14th February 1867

Secondary Sources

1. “A History of Congregations in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland 1610-1982” authorised by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Belfast: Presbyterian Historical Society of Ireland, 1982 (available at www.presbyterianhistoryireland.com)
2. Eccles, J “Downhill, A Scrapbook of People and Place” London: Bath Press, 1996
3. 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

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
H+. Alterations enhancing the building
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

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

Evaluation

Detached multi-bay two-storey rendered house, built in stages ranging from c.1800 to 1860. Irregular on plan facing east with a three-bay single-storey house to the north, built c.1800, a single-bay two-storey block to the centre, built c.1820, and a larger single-bay two-storey block to the south, built c.1860. Located to the west of Springvale Lane in a mature landscaped setting accessed via winding gravel drive with single-storey stone outbuildings forming an informal yard to the north. The palimpsest nature of the development at this site provides for an interesting history of rural architecture. The various blocks retain a wealth of internal and external fabric and form a picturesque composition on a mature site.

General comments

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