Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB02/03/014 B

Address :
South Watch Tower Roe Green Roe Valley Country Park Largy Limavady Co Londonderry

Townland:
Largy

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Survey 2:
B2

Date of Listing:
13/03/2002 00:00:00

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
Watch tower

Former Use
Watch tower

Conservation Area:
No

Industrial Archaeology:
Yes

Vernacular:
Yes

Thatched:
No

Monument:
No

Derelict:
No

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OS Map No:
29/14

IG Ref:
C6829 1980

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Owner Category

Central Govt

Exterior Description And Setting

Small stone built watch tower at the edge of woods at the south east end of the former Roe or Dogleap bleach green. Diameter two metres approximately. Height 2.2 metres to edge of roof. Roof made from corbelled sharp edged stones in a flattened segmental dome. Walls made of a larger smooth edged stone presumably from the River Roe. Size only suitable for one person. Entrance slot 500mm wide on south west side of building. Small 300mm square openings on sides. One facing north west onto the bleach green, the other facing south east into the woods. Building is partly overgrown in the thicket of trees surrounding.

Architects

Not Known

Historical Information

Indicated first on the Ordnance Survey Map of 1831. Part of the structures associated with the adjacent bleach green opened in 1766 by Lesley Alexander and closed in 1831 (see HB02/03/012A, /012B, /013 and /014A). The building and a second tower to the north (HB02/03/014A) were required to ensure supervision of the bleaching linen laid out on the green from straying animals and thieves. Unlike the other watch tower this building appears to be the original, and has not been renovated by the Country Park The adjacent bleach green as it appears today is misleading for before the 1980s there were two millraces crossing the field. The 1830 and 1848 maps show a road passing close to this tower and proceeding towards the mill buildings defined as HB02/03/013. References: Ordnance Survey Map of 1831&1848 Electricity from the Red River NIE p.8. Roe Valley Country Park Visitors’ Guide p.9.

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

C. Ornamentation D. Plan Form J. Setting K. Group value

Historic Interest

Z. Rarity V. Authorship X. Local Interest Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance

Evaluation

A rare feature associated with the linen industry which deserves to be preserved. Of architectural interest for its construction particularly the corbelled roof. Of historical interest as a remnant of the once important linen industry of the River Roe. One of a pair surviving on the same green. (see HB02/03/014A)

General Comments

Date of Survey

29 April 1998