Survey Data
Reg No
40815025
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural
Original Use
House
In Use As
House
Date
1860 - 1890
Coordinates
234757, 431797
Date Recorded
09/09/2008
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Detached three-bay two-storey house, built c. 1870, having advanced gable-fronted bay to the west end of the front elevation (south) with single-storey flat-roofed canted bay window, central single-bay gable-fronted entrance porch to the front elevation, and gable-fronted half-dormer bay to the east end of the front elevation. Recently renovated and extended with additions to the rear (north) and to the west elevations. Pitched natural slate roof, recently renewed, having grey clayware moulded ridge tiles, two central smooth rendered chimneystacks with moulded cornice coping over, replacement timber bargeboards with bell-ends and replacement timber finials to gables, half-dormer opening, and to porch, and having some surviving sections of cast-iron rainwater goods. Smooth rendered ruled-and-lined walling over projecting smooth rendered plinth course, and with raised render block-and-start quoins to the corners. Square-headed window openings having paired two-over-two timber sash windows with horizontal glazing bars, and stone sills; pointed-arched window opening with leaded coloured glass over porch at first floor level; replacement windows to sides and rear. Pointed-arched door opening to front face of porch (south) having timber panelled door with leaded coloured glass panels; inner door with painted glass panel and with encaustic tiled floor to threshold. Stone steps to entrance. Set back from road on a corner site to the south-west of Buncrana with garden to front of site (south). Rubble stone boundary wall to south and west of site with crenellated stone coping to south boundary. Pedestrian gateway to the south having a pair of rubble stone gate piers (on square-plan) having hooped wrought-iron gate. Pointed-arched pedestrian gateway to the west boundary wall having red brick block-and-start surround, red brick voussoirs, and timber gate. Modern vehicular gateway to the south-east of site.
Appraisal
This elegant and well-detailed late Victorian house retains its early character and form, despite some modern alterations to the rear and recent renovations. It is very similar in form and detailing to its neighbour adjacent to the east (see 40815026). This house may have been one of the ‘two detached villas in English style just being completed for George H. Mitchell (of nearby St. Helen’s) on land belonging to Capt. McClintock’ that were designed by the Derry architect John Guy Ferguson in 1865 (IAA). Although altered to the rear, the front elevation with advanced gable-fronted bay with canted bay window, projecting gable-fronted porch, and gable-fronted half-dormer creates an attractive composition of some aesthetic appeal. Its visual appeal is enhanced by the presence of salient fabric such as the natural slate roof and timber sliding sash windows, which may be modern replacements but are in keeping with the style of the original building. The form of this building with gable-fronted forms, irregular-plan, and hoodmouldings to the window openings gives this building a muted Gothic feel that is characteristic of many High Victorian middle-class houses found throughout Ireland. . This building originally dates from the period when Buncrana was a popular seaside resort, frequented by the middle classes of Derry, particularly following the opening of the railway line to the town in 1864. This house forms part of a group of substantial houses and villas built in this part of Buncrana during the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century. Located in a prominent location along the main approach road into the town from the south and west, this building is an integral element of the built heritage of Buncrana. The simple rubble stone boundary walls and gateways to site add to the setting and context, and complete this composition.