29 Main Street

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A symmetrical split-level three-and two-storey-over-basement red-brick house, now divided into three apartments, built c.1890 and located to the north side of Main Street in Castlerock overlooking Castlerock Beach. Rectangular on plan with projecting gabled end bays having two-storey canted bays, two-storey L-shaped gabled wing to southeast, refurbished flat-roof conservatory to southwest and modern uPVC conservatory to northwest.

Number 29 occupies ground and first floor of northwest gable and interlinking bay, accessed by conservatory to southwest.

Pitched natural slate roof (half-hipped to central gable at southwest) with blue/black angled ridge tiles and red-brick chimneystacks having some clay pots; timber bargeboards on brackets with timber-sheeted soffits and quatrefoil detailing. Plastic rainwater goods on modillioned timber eaves with timber-sheeted soffits. Walling is Flemish-bonded red brick with channel-rusticated strip render quoins to gabled bays and continuous sill course between floors; painted smooth render to canted bays and conservatory. Windows are generally uPVC; segmental-headed at ground floor in plain reveals with lugged painted render surrounds, and also to two-storey canted bays at northeast; pointed-headed at first floor (paired to gables and set into segmental-headed reveals) with red brick voussoirs and decorative polychrome hood moulds; some segmental-headed 2/2 timber sash to basement with horizontal glazing bars and horns. Replacement timber-framed windows with leaded-and-stained glass top-lights to conservatory at southwest.

The entrance elevation faces southwest and is symmetrically arranged, comprising central entrance bay flanked by slightly projecting gabled end bays and abutted by the refurbished conservatory (access to numbers 27 & 29) over red-brick basement. Gables are connected by a narrow interlinking bay, having replacement leaded-and-stained glass window at each floor. Gabled bays each have paired windows to first floor over two windows at ground floor; right gable has early twentieth-century double-leaf glazed timber door with two-paned transom light to basement; left gable has 2/2 sash window at right and is abutted by a single-storey flat-roof extension, which is lit by 2/2 timber sash windows and has a replacement glazed timber door (access to number 31) at southeast. Central entrance bay is two windows wide at first floor. Conservatory has channel-rusticated corner piers rising to parapet piers with partially intact timber balustrade and turned balusters; lit by timber-framed windows with continuous sill course and moulded apron panels below; opening to southwest with a set of replacement glazed timber doors. Basement to conservatory has two replacement timber-sheeted doors at northwest and one to southeast with a 2/2 sash window.

The northwest elevation has a square-headed window to first floor centre over two at ground floor; basement level is abutted by the modern uPVC conservatory and has a 2/2 timber sash window at left.

The northeast elevation is three-storey and symmetrically arranged. Central bay has two square-headed windows at second floor and two sets of paired windows at first and ground floor. Flanking gabled bays each have window to second floor over two-storey canted bays.

The southeast elevation is abutted by the two-storey L-shaped gabled wing; northeast gable has a pointed-headed window over canted bay with leaded roof and a flat-roof entrance porch (access to number 31) at right. Porch has double-leaf bolection-moulded three-panel timber doors with transom light and sidelights having margin panes and coloured glass panels. Southwest gable of two-storey wing is abutted by a single-storey red brick extension, connecting a modern two-storey red-brick dwelling (under separate ownership).

Setting:

Situated on a rectangular plot overlooking the Irish Sea in a residential area to the north side of Main Street in Castlerock. Basement to southwest side of house enclosed with Flemish-bonded red brick walls having painted coping stones topped with original decorative wrought-iron railings. Basement yard laid with concrete and accessed from NW by a segmental-headed opening with timber frame. Garden laid with modern paving and gravel to southwest and lawned to northeast; both bounded by rubblestone walls. At southwest entrance are a set of centred square painted render piers, having pointed caps and supporting original iron latch-gates. A modern two-storey red-brick building (referred to above) has been built directly to southeast. Tarmacadamed driveway from Main Street leads to entrance to number 31.

Roof: Natural slate
Walling: Flemish-bonded red brick
Windows : uPVC and 2/2 timber sash with horns
RWG: Plastic

Historical information

Nos 27-31 Main Street, a two-storey redbrick dwelling located in the townland of Freehall Watson, was constructed in the late-Victorian period. The building, now divided into three separate apartments, was first recorded in the Annual Revisions in 1889 when it was occupied by Samuel Fletcher, a gentleman and former treasurer of Castlerock Golf Club; the valuer noted that the property, which was valued at £22, was leased by Fletcher from the estate of Sir. H. Bruce.

When completed, nos 27-31 Main Street consisted of the main two-storey redbrick block, however in 1894 the two-storey redbrick gable, located to the east side of the house (now part of No. 27 Main Street), was added, raising the value of Fletcher’s property to £25. The census records note that neither Samuel Fletcher nor his wife was present at nos 27-31 Main Street during the 1901 survey; the census records that his sons, Herbert (20, Church of Ireland) and Edmond (18) were present at the site during Census night. The census building return described Fletcher’s property as a 1st class dwelling that consisted of 21 rooms (making it the largest building along Main Street in Freehall Watson) and possessed the eastern stable block as its sole out office.

Nos 27-31 Main Street, also known as Craglea House, was first recorded on the third edition of the Ordnance Survey maps in 1906; the map depicted Craglea along its current layout (including the extension linking the house with the 1894 stable block) indicating that few alterations to the property have been made in the past century. Although the Ordnance Survey maps between 1906 and 1950 did not depict the single-storey conservatory (located to the south-west elevation), the feature is depicted on an Annual Revision town plan (dated 1911-c.1935) which shows that the feature had been installed by at least the early decades of the 20th century. Despite the apparent lack of alteration to the site, the Annual Revisions increased the value of Craglea House to £73 between 1901 and 1907; however the valuer’s notes did not provide any explanation concerning this increase. It can only be presumed that a major renovation of Craglea House was undertaken during this period.

Samuel Fletcher continued to reside at Craglea until his death in 1909 (PRONI Wills); upon his death Fletcher’s widow Eliza took possession of the property. The 1911 Census records that Eliza (59) continued to live at Craglea with her son Edmond (who was employed as a journalist) and her daughter Elise; there was no change to the description of their dwelling on the census building return, however by 1911 the Fletcher’s stable block was being utilised as a turf house and shed.

The Fletcher family continued to reside at Craglea House in 1935 when the property was included in the First General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland; by that time the formerly single private dwelling had been subdivided into three sections, all of which were leased by Eliza Fletcher. The Fletcher’s continued to reside in the largest portion of Craglea (No. 27) whilst the central apartment (No. 29) was occupied by a Mr. E. McNutt and valued at £30. There was no further valuation of the house undertaken for over two decades due to the Second World War; however by the 1950s the Fletcher family had vacated Craglea House. The Fletchers most likely finally left the house on Main Street in c. 1941 when Eliza Fletcher died (her son Edmond had died in 1938 – PRONI Wills).

By the end of the Second Revaluation (1956-72) Craiglea House continued to be divided into three separate dwellings, the total combined value of which stood at £104. Although they no longer occupied Craiglea, the Fletcher’s continued to own the property until the 1960s when each portion of the building was purchased outright by its tenant. The Second Revaluation notes that No. 29 Main Street as occupied by a Mr. Walter G. Bradley in 1956, however by 1967 the property was taken over by the Rev. Dr. Wallace who continued to reside there until the end of the revaluation in 1972.

Nos 27-31 Main Street, also known as Craiglea House, owes its construction to the laying of the railway line through Castlerock, and the establishment of the village’s railway station in 1873-75 by John Lanyon (Rowan, p. 186). The Londonderry & Coleraine Railway Company encouraged the development of Castlerock as a seaside resort and in the late-Victorian period offered 10 years of first class rail travel free to anyone who constructed a seaside villa at the village. The Binevenagh Area of Outstanding Beauty website records that Seawell House, Atlantic Lodge (see HB03/12/004) and Craglea House were all constructed during this period and may have resulted from this initiative. Craglea House continues to be subdivided into three separate apartments.

References

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/1/2/1 – First Edition Ordnance survey map 1831-32
2. PRONI OS/6/1/2/2 – Second Edition Ordnance survey map 1853
3. PRONI OS/6/1/2/3 – Third Edition Ordnance survey map 1906
4. PRONI OS/6/1/2/4 – Fourth Edition Ordnance survey map 1921-31
5. PRONI OS/6/1/2/5 – Fifth Edition Ordnance survey map 1946-50
6. PRONI VAL/12/B/30/10/C-F – Annual Revisions 1881-1929
7. PRONI VAL/12/E/144/1 – Annual Revisions Town Plan 1911-c.1935
8. PRONI VAL/3/B/6/1 – First General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland 1935
9. PRONI VAL/4/B/5/5 – Second General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland 1956-1972
10. PRONI Wills Catalogue (12 Jul 1909; 11 May 1938; 28 Jul 1940)
11. Ulster Town Directories (1880-1918)
12. Census of Ireland (1901; 1911)
13. Ordnance Survey map – 12-2 (1980)

Secondary Sources

1. Rowan, A., ‘The buildings of Ireland: North West Ulster’ Yale: Yale University Press, 1979.

Online Resources

1. Binevenagh Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty website –
http://www.binevenaghaonb.ccght.org/built-heritage/

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A symmetrical split-level three-and two-storey-over-basement red-brick house, now divided into three apartments, built c.1890 and located to the north side of Main Street in Castlerock overlooking Castlerock Beach. There is inappropriate replacement fabric, including uPVC windows, and alterations of the floorplan with the refurbishment of the interior into three apartments. Whilst of some architectural and historic interest it is not sufficient interest to warrant listing.