Brecart Lodge

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Detached three-bay two-storey former hunting lodge, built c.1818. Rectangular on plan with L-shaped multi-bay extension enclosing yard to north, facing south. Main block has central flat-roofed porch, central gabled staircase return rear, and eight-window-wide two-storey wing to east end of north elevation.

The roof is pitched with rendered chimneystacks. Chimneystacks have beaded octagonal chimneypots. The walling is block-marked over chamfered painted smooth-rendered plinth; openings are square-headed with rendered stop-ended label-moulds, sills and painted timber 6/6 sashes, unless otherwise stated. All breakfronts are two storey and a single window wide and have moulded kneeler blocks.

The principal (south) elevation has window to each floor at each bay, except ground floor centre bay, which is abutted by the flat-roofed entrance porch. Left and right bays are breakfronts. Porch has crenellated parapet above a moulded stringcourse aligning with the label moulds. South elevation of porch has a single window; left cheek has a blocked window with label mould, right cheek has the square-headed painted timber moulded six panelled door, addressed by two steps.

West gable has central single-window-wide breakfront.

The north elevation is centrally abutted by the staircase return; left is abutted by L-shaped wing. Exposed gabled right section is blank. Return is gabled with moulded kneelers and first floor has round-arched painted timber sliding sash window; left cheek is abutted by east wing, right cheek is blank.

East gable has central single-window-wide breakfront.

The attached L-shaped wing consists of an east and north wing and abuts left side of main block north addition and left cheek of staircase return. Exposed section of east wing west elevation is two storeys and three windows wide, except centre ground floor square-headed replacement glazed timber door and stop-ended label mould. Windows to wing do not have label moulds. East elevation of east wing is two stories and eight windows wide. The multi-bay single-storey north wing, renovated c.1990, abuts left side of east wing. Left end of north wing has return. Roofs are hipped slate.

Attached double-height rendered screen wall to right end with a triangular-headed entrance opening accessing the alley behind the outbuilding range.

Setting

The lodge is built into a terraced hillside with a partially rendered retaining wall to the northeast abutting the screen wall of the wing. There are extensive lawned grounds with many mature trees, an ornamental lake, and a tree-lined tarmac avenue to the southeast. The avenue is entered past a Tudorbethan gate lodge, rebuilt c.2005, and ornate cast-iron gate screen with rendered castellated pillars. There are three multi-bay single-storey brick outbuildings to the southeast near the avenue.

Windows: Square-headed painted timber 6/6
Door: Painted timber moulded six panelled door
Walling: Block-marked render
Roof: Pitched natural slate, blue/black clay angled ridge tiles.
Rainwater goods: Half-round cast-iron gutters

Historical information

The building is recorded on the 1832 OS Map. The 1836 Townland Valuation records the lodge owned by a Captain O'Neill, and valued at £12.18s.0d. The ownership includes a return, three offices and two office towers. The 1857 OS Map labels ‘Brecart Lodge’ and shows the building to have been modified. An additional wing to the northwest corner shown on the 1830s map has disappeared. The house was renovated c.1990. The Tudorbethan gate lodge was rebuilt c.2005.

The 1837 OS memoirs record that Brecart Tower (11 feet by 10 feet) to be residence of Captain Daniel O'Neill. The house was commenced in 1818 and added to each year. Before the present house, Brecart was a thatched cottage. Brecart cottage, also on the estate, was built c.1787 by John O'Neill and is now occupied by Mr. Samuel Finiston.

The building was reputedly the hunting lodge of the O’Neill family. The long east wing was likely for lodging and the original kitchen still survives in the abutting north wing.

Apart from the connection with Lord O’Neill and his hunting companions, two other notable persons were associated with this house: 1) Ulster photographer William Alfred Green (1870-1958) was a frequent visitor of the area and the nephew of neighbouring Union Lodge homeowner. 2) It was the childhood home of British Oscar-nominated actor Richard Todd (b. 11 June 1919, Dublin), a 1950s-era leading man and star of Alfred Hitchcock’s Stage Fright (1950), as well as the title roles in Robin Hood (1952), Rob Roy (1953), and A Man Called Peter (1955). The house was detailed in his memoirs “Caught in the Act” (1986).

References:

Primary

1. PRONI OS/6/1/94/1 OS Map 1st Ed. (1832)
2. PRONI OS/6/1/94/2 OS Map 2nd Ed. (1857)
3. PRONI/1A/1/42 Townland Valuations 1836

Secondary

1. Brett, C. E. B. “Buildings of County Antrim.” Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1996
2. Lewis, Samuel. “A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, Comprising the Several Counties, Cities, Boroughs, Corporate, Market, and Post Towns, Parishes, and Villages, With Historical and Statistical Descriptions; Embellished with Engravings of the Arms of the Cities, Bishopricks, Corporate Towns, and Boroughs; Of the Seals of the Several Municipal Corporations.” London: S. Lewis & Co., 1837.
3. OS Memoirs of Ireland, Parishes of Co Antrim VI 1830, 1833, 1835-38 (Southwest Antrim) Vol 19
4. IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0865262/ (Accessed 25/9/08).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

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

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Detached three-bay two-storey former hunting lodge, built c.1818. A symmetrical-fronted nineteenth-century former hunting lodge with Tudorbethan detailing associated with the O’Neill family. Although internally renovated, the room layout remains intact within the main block. In addition, the house retains its original riverside setting, although gate lodge has been replaced. Historically, the lodge is connected to the O’Neill family, photographer W. A. Green, and actor Richard Todd. Its age and association with the O'Neill's add to its special architectural and historic interest.