Viewing Platform, Drenagh Estate, 17 Dowland Road, Fruithill, Limavady, Co Londonderry, BT49 0HP

This is a fine example of a neo-classical viewing platform, built in the 1840s to 1850s, and located on the Drenagh Estate near Limavady, County Londonderry. The structure, designed by Charles Lanyon, is set forward from short flanking walls and offers views over the Italianate garden. A long flight of 21 steps descends through dense vegetation and leads to the platform, which is protected by a stone open balustrade. The view is directed over the garden, across a level lawn crossed by a stream forming two small, circular pools with stone paved footbridges on either side.

The viewing platform is approximately six metres high and features a square facade with a large, round-headed, semi-circular recessed niche forming a concave three-quarter sphere at the top. A circular pool with a water jet is situated at the base. A simple, deep string course runs around the top of the arch, terminating in a keystone. The Italianate garden, or parterre, was created before the demolition of the former Fruithill house, likely before 1830, and the viewing platform itself was constructed after 1840. The garden is now overgrown and tall trees obscure the view, reducing the platform’s impact. It is located to the south-east of the main house, below the site of the former Fruithill structure. The listing includes the viewing platform and its associated steps.