Lake View House

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A two-storey, three-bay, pebble-dashed house, with two-storey segmental bays containing tripartite windows on each floor. It stands in a rural area, set well back from the main road, within its own farmland.

The main entrance faces east. The east elevation is symmetrical with a central entrance between two segmental bays. Walling is pebble-dashed, with a smooth rendered plinth, eaves course, and quoins to the extremities. The main roof is of Bangor blue slates in regular courses. The bays are flat topped. There are two chimneys, one to each gable, smooth rendered, lined, and blocked, with moulded frieze and cornice, and carrying modern stub pots. Rainwater goods are of uPVC.

Windows are rectangular timber sliding sash, vertically hung, without horns, consisting of a central light, 6 over 6, flanked by sidelights which are 4 over 4, all set in smooth rendered surrounds, with a keystone, and projecting stone cills. The sashes to the right hand bay have fluted bow-fronted timber mullions; those to the left hand bay have been altered and now have flat mullions with tubular metal posts set in front of them with square flanges to the top and bottom, inserted to provide extra support for the deep reveal above.

The main entrance, in a semi-circular arched opening with sidelights and radial fanlight, has a keystone with part of an inscription which begins 'Built …' but the rest of the incised lettering is filled in and painted over. Above it in the first floor is a tripartite window of smaller size than previous, having narrower sidelights, which are sashed 2 over 2, with bowed and fluted mullions, surmounted by a radial-glazed segmental head.

The south elevation comprises the main gable, which has similar walling to the front, and a long rear return extending to the left. The gable has two windows, modern rectangular timber fixed lights with top-hung vents, set in raised rendered surrounds. Barge boards are of timber. The rear return is two storeys, but of lower height than the front block. The roof is slated as previous, slightly sagging to the left hand end where it consists of an outbuilding attached to the house return. Walls are of roughcast. Rainwater goods are of uPVC. Windows in the house part of the return are of large modern rectangular type, one incorporating a modern glazed door.

The outbuilding part of the rear return has two rectangular windows and two doorways. Its end gable is finished in render with some brickwork revealed, and an upper window blocked with concrete blocks. The northern side of the rear return is of plain character, with slated roofs, two rendered chimneys, and three windows containing modern fixed lights and top-hung vents.

The west or rear elevation of the front block is also roughcast, with a slated roof. It contains a semi-circular headed window on the first floor which includes a radial fanlight, and three other rectangular windows with modern types of frame. There is also a modern porch, extensively glazed, with a low brick plinth wall and a flat roof, containing within it in the rear wall of the house, a modern glazed door.

The north elevation consists of the main gable which has similar walling to the front, with windows in two storeys plus an attic storey, and a lower two-storey extension extending to the right, also pebble-dashed with quoins at the outer extremity. Its roof is a swept continuation of the main pitch. Windows in the main gable are rectangular timber sashes, 3 over 6, to the upper floors and 6 over 6 to the ground floor. Windows to the extension are of modern fixed lights and top-hung vents.

SETTING

The house is approached by a concrete driveway bordered by hedges and fences. It leads past the front of the house and along each side and terminates in a yard on the south side which is enclosed by outbuildings. The outbuildings are of one and two storeys with slated roofs and roughcast walls, and are of no special interest.

To the north and west side of the house is a garden enclosed by hedges, while to the front is an extensive field. The front boundary is formed by wooden fencing, while the main gateway comprises a pair of modern decorative iron gates set in stone piers with flanking screen walls of no special interest.

Historical information

The precise date of building is not known but it appears on the OS map of 1832. It has been dated approximately to 1800, and was built for the Gaussen family who developed Ballyronan. The present owner took over the property in 1962.

References - Primary Sources
1. OS Map of 1832.

Secondary Sources
1. S. Lewis, A topographical dictionary of Ireland (London, 1837), Vol 1, p 59, and Vol 2, p 724.
2. A.J. Rowan, The Buildings of Ireland: North-West Ulster (Harmondsworth, 1979), p 126.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

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

Criteria for listing: historic interest

V. Authorship
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A two-storey, three-bay, pebble-dashed house, with two-storey segmental bays containing tripartite windows on each floor. This is an attractive and nicely proportioned late Georgian house which retains most of its distinguishing features to the main front, including tripartite windows and radial fanlights. Its age, form and unusual detailing are of special interest. It stands in a pleasant rural setting within its own farmland and aside from its intrinsic architectural interest as a prominent and easily visible example of its type and period, is of further local historic interest as having been the home of the man who was responsible for the development of the village of Ballyronan.