Criggan House

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Detached three-bay two-storey rendered house, built c.1920. Rectangular on plan, facing south, set within its own grounds to the north side of Upper Strabane Road. Single-bay projection to left bay with bay window and further bay window to the right bay with entrance portico to the centre.

Hipped natural slate roof, roll-moulded terracotta ridge tiles and pair of redbrick chimneystacks with heavy moulded cornice and terracotta pots, further stack to rear projection. Ogee brackets to overhanging eaves with plastic fascia and replacement rainwater goods. Smooth cement rendered frieze to moulded stringcourse and pebbledash rendered walling with smooth render quoins and plinth course. Square-headed window openings with architrave surrounds, concrete sills and single-pane timber sash windows.

Front elevation comprises single-bay projection to the left with a three-sided canted bay, a further three-sided canted bay to the right with its lean-to slate roof extending to the inner corner forming a portico to the central entrance supported by a single concrete Doric column. Hipped natural slate roof to the left bay with plain frieze to eaves, this frieze is repeated to the right hand bay and portico with applied lettering stating.. 'Criggan House' flanked by clover motifs. Central square-headed door opening with concrete architrave surround, six panelled timber door with bolection mouldings and rectangular overlight. Door opens onto elevated portico with three nosed concrete steps.

West side elevation has two windows to the ground floor and a single window to the first floor with single-pane timber sash window and coloured glass margin lights, lighting the stairs.

The rear elevation has a two-storey projection to the left abutted by a single-storey extension, while the right hand side is abutted by a flat-roofed extension.

East side elevation has three window openings to both ground and first floors.

Concrete footpath to elevated front lawn descending three concrete nosed steps to the street, enclosed by highly decorative cast-iron railings to low rendered wall with matching pair of vehicular gates to the west and pedestrian gate to the front garden supported on pairs of square-plan concrete rendered piers with moulded concrete capstones and pebbledash panels. Bitmac drive gives access to the rear. Modern single-storey unit with connecting corridor, built c.2000 with hipped artificial slate roofs and uPVC windows and doors.

Roof Natural slate, terracotta ridge tiles
Walling Cement pebbledash render
Windows Single-pane timber sash
Rainwater goods Replacement metal

Historical information

The house is first shown on the fourth edition Ordnance Survey map of 1939. The owner stated that the house was built in 1923.

The house first appears in valuation records in 1933 when it is occupied by Elizabeth McCay and leased from Andrew McCay. Andrew McCay later becomes the occupier and leases the property from William C Smyly. The valuation is £23, later raised to £30. At this time the house comprises a kitchen, scullery, two receptions and four bedrooms with a bathroom and W.C. The W.C. seems to be external to the main house at this stage, in an adjoining outhouse. A plan and dimensions are given in which some of the outbuildings are shown with walls and roofs of corrugated iron. The valuer comments, ‘Very good modern house in a fair position’.

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/6/16/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map (1939)
2. PRONI VAL/3/D/7/1E/3 – Valuers’ RV Binder (1933-57)

Secondary Sources

1. Information from owner

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

This substantial suburban dwelling dating from 1923 exhibits many early twentieth-century details such as concrete mouldings, decorative eaves brackets and highly elaborate ironwork. Retaining most external and internal original fabric, this structure is detailed in an Arts and Crafts/ late Victorian style which is not in keeping with its constructon date. Whilst it is one of the better buildings in Castlederg from this period it is not of special interest.