Survey Data
Reg No
40810015
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural
Original Use
House
In Use As
House
Date
1850 - 1890
Coordinates
265796, 440575
Date Recorded
18/09/2008
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Detached three-bay two-storey house, built c. 1870, having central single-bay single-storey entrance porch to front elevation (south) flanked to either side (east and west) by single-bay single-storey flat-roofed canted bay windows, and with two-storey return to the rear (north). Shallow hipped natural slate roof with wide overhanging eaves, grey clayware ridge tiles, central pair of smooth rendered chimneystacks with terracotta pots over, and with cast-iron rainwater goods; hipped slate roof to porch and catslide slate roof to return. Roughcast rendered walls over smooth rendered plinth. Square-headed window openings having smooth rendered reveals, stone sills, surrounds and with two-over-two and one-over-one pane timber sliding sash windows to canted bays and replacement fittings at first floor level. Mainly timber sliding sash windows (six-over-six, one-over-one, and six-over-three) to the rear elevation (north). Square-headed door opening to east face of porch having smooth rendered reveals, plinth blocks, timber panelled door, and overlight. Set back from road in extensive mature landscaped grounds to the east of Greencastle overlooking Lough Foyle to the south. Detached four-bay two-storey outbuilding to the rear having pitched natural slate roof with projecting eaves course, cast-iron rainwater goods, roughcast rendered walls over smooth rendered plinth, square-headed window openings with variety of sash windows and with timber louvered fittings to opening at first floor level, square-headed doorways with battened timber doors, and central square-headed carriage-arch with battened timber double-doors. Rubble stone walls to the west boundary of site. Gateway to the south-west comprising a pair of rendered gate piers (on square-plan) having wrought-iron flat bar gate.
Appraisal
This well-proportioned house or seaside villa, of mid-to-late late nineteenth-century date, retains much of its original form and character despite some modern alterations. Its visual expression and integrity is enhanced by the retention of salient fabric such as the timber sliding sash windows to the majority of openings, and the natural slate roof. The canted bay windows and central porch to the front elevation give it a strong architectural character. The canted bay windows are a feature found on many contemporary houses built or altered by the middle classes during the last decades of the nineteenth century and into the twentieth century. The canted bay windows may be slightly later additions, perhaps added c. 1900. This building dates to the late-nineteenth century, a period when Greencastle and neighbouring Moville were popular seaside resorts frequented by the middle classes of Derry. Greencastle was accessible by regular steam packet boats from Derry in the Summer months during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. This house was originally built by the McClelland family, and is one of a number of dwellings associated with this family in the area. The McClelland family also built the Manor House (see 40810008) located to the south-west, and Porta Villa shares an approach avenue and gateway with this property. This house is one of a number of attractive and sizeable middle class seaside villas in the Moville and Greencastle areas, and is an addition to the built heritage of the local area. The simple but well-preserved outbuilding to the north, rubble stone boundary walls, and the well-crafted wrought-iron gates add to the setting, and complete this composition.