Roe Park (Radisson Hotel), Ballykelly Road, Limavady, Co Londonderry, BT49 9LB

Roe Park is a late Georgian country house, now substantially incorporated into a large luxury hotel complex. The building demonstrates good Georgian styling and pleasing proportions, despite its considerable length and complex window arrangement.

The surviving Georgian core consists of a long two-storey elevation of approximately fourteen bays, with a two-storey semi-circular projecting bay forming the former main entrance, positioned slightly asymmetrically. Each gable forms a full-width canted bay with windows in each facet. The walls are smooth rendered and painted cream. The roof is finished with natural slates, including neat curved slating to the semi-circular bay. A back return survives at the former dining room end.

The fenestration is somewhat varied due to additions made throughout the house's early life. The building probably began in the early 18th century as a five-bay double-pile two-storey house with a semi-circular projecting entrance hall. Additions were made in 1730, and in 1782 a dining room was added at the south-east end with a back return, out-houses and offices. Because greater height was desired for the dining room, floor levels and window heads varied accordingly. In 1826, a large drawing room was added at the other end to balance the façade, though the elevation became one bay longer than that on the opposite side of the entrance hall. The same solution of varied floor levels and window arrangements was maintained, creating a balanced but distinctive effect.

The former principal entrance retains three-quarter engaged circular columns with neat bases, decorative echinus, entablature and moulded frieze. Georgian sash windows on ground and first floor have been kept intact, as have the chimney stacks and slated roofs.

The two-storey stone-built, brick-trimmed out-house ranges have been largely successfully retained and adapted to new functions, though one wing has been replaced by new build. The courtyard's integrity survives, with the coach house arches retaining their profile and being cleverly adapted to suit new floor levels and ceiling heights. Former varied roof profiles are retained with louvred vents, and Diocletian windows remain functional. Passage through the south range from the present car park to the courtyard is maintained. The courtyard has been pleasantly landscaped with careful handling of level differences.

The extensive grounds retain their earlier character around the buildings. The walled garden has been converted to a golf driving range and lost one length of wall, but retains two crenellated gazebos placed diagonally opposite each other. The long winding avenue from Ballykelly Road maintains its character. The golf course does not substantially impinge on the landscape. The salient front of the house retains uninterrupted views across the Roe River to the town of Limavady and the distant profiles of Benevenagh, Keady, Donal's Hill and Benbradagh.

History

Land at Mullagh was granted to Thomas Phillips in 1610 and was acquired by William Conolly, Speaker of the Irish House of Commons and Commissioner of Revenue, around 1700. It was leased to Captain Babington, who built the house around 1704 when the demesne was called Mullagh. Marcus McCausland occupied the demesne and house around 1730, adding to it and renaming it Daisyhill. Dominick McCausland occupied it and around 1782 built the dining room, out-houses, offices and a wooden bridge across the Roe; the architect was M Ferguson, assisted by David McBlain. The bridge was destroyed and rebuilt in 1801.

John Cromie acquired the property in 1817 and embellished the wooden bridge in 1826, which had a clear span of 70 feet. Sir Francis McNaghten acquired the property in 1826 and built the fine drawing room and the entire front façade, bringing the total length to 140 feet. He also built the gate lodge. His son Edward McNaghten was in residence in 1835. In 1847, Archibald Rennie of Inverness took the demesne, succeeded by Harvey Nicholson of Derry in 1850. S M Alexander acquired the property in 1872. Alexander's daughter married a Frenchman, E F Ritter, whose family retained it until 1951 when it was acquired for use as an old people's home.

The present owners acquired the site in the mid-1980s and undertook an £8 million adaptation, commencing business as a 60-bedroom hotel, conference and golf centre in 1995. The architects were Hobart & Heron of Belfast, and the builder was David Patton & Sons Ltd of Ballymena.

To the west of the building complex stands the Monument LDY-9:6, known as Drumceatt.