15 Legatonegan Road, Lislaird, Castlederg, Strabane, Co Tyrone BT81 7UJ

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Detached three-bay two-storey rendered house, rebuilt c.1910. Rectangular on plan, facing east, set within its own grounds on the north side of Legatonegan Road, accessed by a lane set perpendicular to the road. Abutted to the north gable by a ruined rubble stone two-storey wing and to the gable by a single-storey wing.

Pitched natural slate roof, roll-moulded terracotta ridge tiles and single rendered chimneystack to north gable with cast-iron rainwater goods. Rough-cast lime render over rubble stone walling. Square-headed window openings, concrete sills and timber sash windows with exposed sash boxes.

Three-bay two-storey front elevation with central windbreaker entrance porch having lean-to natural slate roof with timber lintel and vertically-sheeted timber door flanked by curved lime rendered rubble stone walls.

South gable is flanked by single-storey wing, now collapsed. Chimneystack to this gable has also collapsed. A pair of square-headed window openings to the upper floor with concrete sills and a further window opening to the front elevation of the wing with 6/6 timber sash window.

Rear elevation has a catslide roof with the two south bays forming a single-storey projection and the north bay having two storeys. The north cheek of the projection has a square-headed door opening with vertically-sheeted timber door and a diminutive window opening above with four-pane timber casement window.

Roof Natural slate
Walling Lime render over rubble stone
Windows Timber sash
Rainwater goods Cast-iron

Historical information

There are buildings present on the first edition Ordnance Survey map of 1833 and one of these appears to have survived to the present day. A further outbuilding is present to the west from the third edition of 1904-5.

The buildings are not identifiable in the Townland Valuation (1828-40). Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64) lists a house, offices and land occupied by Geo. Hunter and leased from Lord Castlestewart. The buildings are valued at £1, later amended to £1.5s.

Various members of the Hunter family occupy the house in the ensuing years until George Hunter becomes the occupier in 1883. In 1914 the value of the house is raised to £4.10s and the valuer notes, ‘New house, old house down’. A plan and dimensions are given for the house and two outbuildings. All is of rubble masonry, a small building adjoining the main house to the south being thatched and some of the outbuildings roofed with corrugated iron and wood. The estimated cost of the house is £224. In 1918 George Hunter becomes the occupier in fee.

By 1933 Letitia Margaret Hunter is the owner in fee and the value of the house is raised to £6 and £1.10s for outbuildings (undated change). The accompanying plan shows that some changes have taken place – an outbuilding to the south of the house has been pulled down, outbuildings to the west have been extended, and a small extension has been made to an outbuilding adjoining the main house. At this time the house comprises a kitchen, pantry and/or porch, two rooms, a store, three bedrooms and an attic store. An outbuilding adjoining the house that was formerly thatched is, by this time, roofed with corrugated iron.

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/6/15/1 – First Edition OS Map (1833)
2. PRONI OS/6/6/15/2 – Second Edition OS Map (1853)
3. PRONI OS/6/6/15/3 – Third Edition OS Map (1904-5)
4. PRONI OS/6/6/15/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map (1951)
5. PRONI VAL/1/A/6/15 – Townland Valuation Map
6. PRONI VAL/1/B/636D – Townland Valuation (1828-40)
7. PRONI VAL/2/A/6/15 – Griffiths’ Valuation Map
8. PRONI VAL/2/B/6/38C – Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64)
9. PRONI VAL/12/A/6/2 – Valuers’ Note Book (1905-20)
10. PRONI VAL/12/B/35/20A-F – Annual Revision Records (1860-1924)
11. PRONI VAL/3/D/7/1A/2 – Valuers’ RV Binder (1933-57)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Although in a derelict condition and constructed at an early twentieth century date, this three-bay two-storey dwelling displays many of the typical features of a vernacular structure, including a windbreaker entrance and diminutive proportions. The horizontally sheeted internal partition walls are a local feature and add interest. Unfortunately it is now in poor condition and has consequently lost some of its detailing which diminishes its value.