Moyle House, 3 Carrigan's Road, Newtownstewart, Omagh, BT78 4EE

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Detached multi-bay two-storey rendered former Glebe House, built c.1850. Situated at the end of a long avenue opening onto Strahulter Road to the north via a pair of stone piers and wrought-iron gates. Two rectangular plan blocks set on an east-west axis, formerly the return to Moyle House (since destroyed by fire), with the west block stepped back behind the east block. Multi-bay two-storey rendered outbuilding attached to the east gable and a further range of single-storey outbuildings on a quadrant plan attached to the north elevation of west block forming an enclosed rear yard.

Pitched natural slate roof, hipped to the west end of the east block with terracotta ridge tiles, lead valleys and four large rendered chimneystacks with terracotta pots. Replacement metal rainwater goods to timber box fascia. Painted rendered walling, ruled-and-lined to west block, painted rough-cast to east block with painted rusticated masonry quoins. Square-headed window openings with painted stone sills, timber sash windows and some uPVC replacements.

West block is four windows wide with a full-width slated canopy to the ground floor, covering a semi-circular bay window and front entrance. Two 6/6 timber sash windows and two uPVC windows to the first floor, timber casement windows to the bay with double-leaf timber doors to the principal entrance having multi-pane sidelights and overlight. Door opens onto raised area to canopy with three full-width granite steps and two rendered piers supporting canopy. The east block is five windows wide with 3/6 early timber sash windows to the first floor, two 6/6 timbe sash windows to the ground floor and two uPVC replacement windows. The easternmost window opening has double-leaf timber French doors opening into a lean-to conservatory. Projecting beyond this elevation is a multi-bay outbuilding with catslide roof. West side gable has a single uPVC window with painted stone quoins to either end. North elevation to west block is four windows wide with the east bay abutted by a single-storey outbuilding on quadrant plan. 3/6 early timber sash windows to the first floor, uPVC windows to the ground floor. The east bay including single-bay east side elevation has an earlier lime rendered wall finish with smaller window openings to the side elevation having uPVC windows. The rear elevation to the east block fronts onto the rear yard with three windows to the west having 3/6 timber sash windows to the first floor, uPVC to ground floor. The east half of the building functions as an outbuilding with a flight of stone steps to the first floor, and all doors and windows removed. To the east the outbuilding continues as a lower lofted single-storey range with its north elevation recessed. Abutting the north elevation of the west block, the quadrant plan rubblestone outbuilding has a curved single-pitched natural slate roof with a single door and window opening to the outer elevation having timber panelled door and 6/6 timber sash window. To the inner elevation some fixed multi-pane timber windows remain. A further single-storey outbuilding encloses the rear yard to the east with artificial slate roof and pebbledash rendered walls with vertically-sheeted timber doors.

Scattered to the front (south) and to the west are the fragments of the carved stone Ionic portico to Moyle House.
Gravel front and side area join the short gravel lane to the rear yard, continuing west before turning north to form a long tree-lined avenue opening onto Strahulter Road.

Stone gatescreen, erected c.1820 at the entrance, and located on the south side of Strahulter Road. The screen consists of a pair of square ashlar stone piers with cement pointing, corniced caps and topped by stone ball finials supported on tapered plinths; it is flanked at right by a rendered alcoved wall with soldier rubble stone coping; the flanking wall to left has been replaced with an interlaced cast concrete balustrade wall, bounding the gate lodge. There are a pair of wrought-iron gates with spiked finials.

A single-storey gate lodge is located within the east boundary of the screen; it features replacement fabric thorughout and is of no interest. A straight tarmac avenue, tree-lined and sweeping to east, leads to the house.

Roof Natural slate
Walling Rough-cast render / smooth render
Windows Timber sash / uPVC
Rainwater goods Replacement metal

Historical information

According to OS Memoirs, the original building ‘Castle Moyle’ or ‘Moyle Cottage’ was built as a glebe house, “The glebe house is commonly called Moyle House or Moyle Castle. It receives the latter name in consequence of being built close to the ruins of an old castle which formerly belonged to a branch of the O’Neill family. This ruin was converted into a summer house by one of the former incumbents. The present dwelling house was built in the year 1727 by Dr John Hall. It has a solid, old-fashioned but comfortable appearance, is surrounded with a few trees, and is situated half a mile to the east of Newtownstewart.” (p.9)

The Diocesan History confirms that the house was the rectory for the parish of Ardstraw and was built by Dr John Hall, rector from 1713-1735, “His church was rebuilt under his care and he contributed largely to it and at the same time at great expense he erected a commodious glebe house.” (p.95) Moyle House appears to have been built c.1850 as a replacement for the old glebe house.

The Townland Valuation (1828-40) lists a glebe dwelling occupied by the Rev. Dr. Nash and gives dimensions. It is valued at £30.8s.10d and this would appear to be the old glebe house.

In Griffith’s Valuation both old and newer properties are valued together at the higher value of £55. The Reverend James McIvor is the occupier and the lessors are the Provost and Fellows of Trinity College, Dublin. James McIvor becomes the occupier in fee c.1864. In 1887 the Rev William J Christie is the occupier and in 1892 there is the first mention of the gate lodge which had formerly been valued with the rest of the property. In 1912 valuers’ notes give a plan and dimensions for the property.

By 1929 Marshall McCausland is the occupier and the value of the property has dropped drastically to £8, reflecting the destruction of the main part of the house by fire.

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/637B – 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/6/38 – Valuers Note Book
10. PRONI VAL/12/B/39/10A-F – Annual Revision Records (1860-1924)
11. Day, A. and P. McWilliams, eds. “OS Memoirs of Ireland, Parishes of County Tyrone I, 1821, 1823, 1833-36, Vol. 5.” Belfast: Institute of Irish Studies, 1990.

Secondary Sources

1. Fawcett, F. W., D. W. T. Crooks and James B. Leslie. “Clergy of Derry and Raphoe.” Belfast and Londonderry: Ulster Historical Foundation, 1999.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Although the main body of Moyle House has been demolished, the substantial return and attendant outbuildings retain some original elements such as early timber sash windows, masonry details and an unusual quadrant plan outbuilding,. Situated in its own secluded grounds with a long avenue, attractive stone gate screen and fragments to its portico, the remains of Moyle House attest to the grandeur and scale of the original house, but there is insufficient architectural interest remaining to warrant listing