The Beeches, Derry Road, Strabane BT82 8DY

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Detached symmetrical three-bay two-storey rendered former Manse, built c.1860. Set within its own landscaped grounds on an elevated site behind the row of houses on the east side of Derry Road, accessed by a long avenue opening onto Derry Road. Rectangular on plan, facing west with a pair of gabled breakfronts and central entrance portico; full-height canted bay to south side elevation with lean-to conservatory and multi-bay two-storey L-plan return.

Replacement hipped natural slate roof with rendered chimneystacks and octagonal clay pots, roll-moulded black clay ridge tiles, rolled lead ridges to bays. Replacement timber barge-boards and finials to all gables, tongue-and-groove to eaves and replacement metal rainwater goods. Painted ruled-and-lined rendered walling (unless otherwise stated), painted rusticated masonry quoins and projecting plinth course. Square-headed window openings with moulded surrounds, painted masonry sills and replacement 1/1 timber sash windows (unless otherwise stated).

Symmetrical three-bay two-storey principal elevation with pair of full-height gabled breakfronts and central square-plan porte cochere; gables appear to have been raised. Paired square-headed window openings to both breakfronts formed in chamfered stone surrounds having hood mouldings, single masonry sill with three console brackets and single-pane timber sash windows. Above the portico is a central recessed bay containing a pair of round-headed window openings with moulded architrave surrounds and round-headed single-pane timber sash windows. Square-plan entrance portico with flat lead roof and large round arch to all three sides; Doric rendered columns support the arches, engaged to either side of the entrance with moulded arches, plain keystones, pebbledash rendered spandrels and continuous cornice to the lead-lined roof. Within the portico is a square-headed door opening with an original raised-and-fielded panelled door with central fillet, rectangular overlight and flanked by pair of rendered pilasters with cornice over. Door opens onto stone step to a larger stone steps set within concrete paved portico area.

Three-bay two-storey north side elevation, originally two-bay with pebble-dash rendered walling. Plain square-headed window openings to first floor and elaborate smooth rendered surrounds to ground floor.

Rear east elevation comprises three gables projecting to various degrees, with mostly replacement fabric. The central gable has a round-headed window opening with fixed multi-pane timber window and lean-to rear entrance porch. The south gable is abutted by a lower L-plan multi-bay two-storey return with uPVC windows.

Two-bay south side elevation has a full-height three-sided canted bay to the left and a new lean-to conservatory to the right. This elevation continues as the lower multi-bay south elevation of the rear return.

Roof Natural slate
Windows Timber sash and uPVC
Walling Painted ruled-and-lined render
Rainwater goods Replacement metal

Historical information

The house is first shown on the third edition Ordnance Survey map of 1907 captioned ‘Manse’. On the fourth edition of 1951 the house is captioned ‘The Beeches’.

The house is first written into an Annual Revisions fieldbook dating from 1860-64. It is occupied by the Rev. W Russell and leased from the Marquis of Abercorn. A marginal note reads that the house cost £420 and the valuation is to be settled at £17. Dimensions are given of 41x29x16. In 1875 the valuer notes that the ‘value of house very low’. However, no alteration is made. In 1886 the occupier becomes the Rev. C.K. Toland.

The house was built as a manse for ministers of the Second Strabane congregation. According to the Presbyterian Historical Society, the reasons for the secession of this congregation in 1816 are not clear, but Rev. William Russell’s ministry was the first of any notable duration. He was ordained in 1846 and retired in 1882. Rev. C.K. Toland was the last minister of Second Strabane, as it reunited with First Strabane in 1911.

In 1919 the house is occupied by James H. White and leased from the Committee of the Presbyterian Church. After 1934 the value is raised to £45 (undated change). At this time the house comprises a kitchen, scullery and three receptions downstairs, with three bedrooms, a maid’s room, a bath and W.C. upstairs. The valuer comments that the house is ‘moderately good quality. Rear apartments rough and not in good order. Tennis court. Grounds well kept’. A plan and dimensions are given. By 1944 the house has been sold to John Weir and James White has retained a portion of the grounds for a building plot.

References:

Primary Sources

1.PRONI OS/6/6/5/3 – Third Edition OS Map (1906)
2.PRONI OS/6/6/5/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map (1951)
3.PRONI VAL/12/B/42/31A-M– Annual Revision Records (1860-1931)
4.PRONI VAL/3/D/7/9A/7 – Valuers’ RV Binder (1933-57)

Secondary Sources

1.www.presbyterianhistoryireland.com – Presbyterian Historical Society

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A three-bay two-storey gable-fronted rendered former Manse set within its own landscaped grounds to the east of Derry Road. This former manse has been renovated with its windows and roof replaced. The front elevation with its portico and pair of gables, albeit raised, largely retains its original appearance, however additions to the rear have obscured the original layout and rear elevation and detract from the building's interest.