Garden No.
DG0028
Significance
Significant site - some loss of integrity
Landscape Elements
Early Formal, Landscape Park, Plant Collection
Townland
Cavanacor
Present on Ordnance Survey
First Edition: Yes, sheet 17
Second Edition: Yes, area slightly reduced
Revised Edition: Yes, area slightly reduced
Modest sized demesne for early 17th century house set on high ground above the Deele River and laid out as a landscape park in a style much later than the house. There is said to be evidence of a small formal layout, possibly an earlier garden contemporary with the house, adjacent to the house on the southwest side.
| Principal Building |
1:Two-storey five-bay house said to originate from the early 17th century, fully maintained and in good condition. |
| Ornamental Garden Building |
4:Range of stone buildings, pre 1836, in use and maintained. |
| Ornamental Garden Structure |
Within the walled garden. |
| Plant Collection |
Road on south side. |
|
The sycamore, that King James was said to have dined beneath, fell in a storm and the wood is being weathered for use. Fine clump of mature Osmunda regalis in the walled garden. |
|
| Productive Garden |
5:Stone walled garden, pre 1836, southwest of the house and adjacent to it, in good condition. Walls on three sides only, originally cultivated as far as the road, now half at north and maintained with box-edged grass paths, beds and fruit trees. Victorian railings on east side, by the house. Glasshouse on northwest wall gone. |
| Productive Garden Building |
Small area south of house. |
| Parkland |
Fine mature trees in shelter belts; 19th century orchards in Tyleford townland gone. |
| Woodland |
As above. |
| Farmland |
Yes, a few field boundaries removed. |
| Gate Lodge or Gateway |
2:West Entrance, west of house with gate screen, no longer in use. |
|
3:East Entrance, east of house and outbuildings with gate lodge opposite. A farm entrance further west, no longer in use with gate lodge, c. 1850 (no longer within the property) disused and dilapidated. A building is shown on the site on the OS 1845/7. |
King James II was said to have dined under a sycamore tree on the way to the siege of Derry in 1689 (20th April). His troops crossed the river at Tyleford ford.
Built by B. Geale Humfrey and Magdalene Tasker, a forebear of James Knox Polk, 11th President of the USA, who was born at Cavanacor in 1634.
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Site Footprint Visible | Yes |
| Boundary Defined | Yes |
| Significant Development | No |
| Architectural Features | |
|---|---|
| Principal Building | Yes |
| Garden Building | No |
| Buildings of Indeterminate Purpose | No |
| Gateways and Gatehouses | No |
| Avenues, Drives and Walks | |
|---|---|
| Avenue | No |
| Drive or Walk | No |
| Garden Features | |
|---|---|
| Ornamental Garden | Yes |
| Walled Garden | No |
| Orchard | No |
| Parkland | Yes |
| Woodland | Yes |
| Natural Water Feature | Yes |
| Artifical Water Features | No |
| Allée | No |
| Vista | No |
| Other | No |
