Drenagh facts for kids
Drenagh is a beautiful old house and its gardens located near Limavady in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It has been the home of the McCausland family for a very long time, since 1729! The main house you see today was built in 1835. It was the first big project for a famous architect named Charles Lanyon, who designed many buildings in Belfast. The gardens are also special, with parts from the 1700s, a large Italian-style garden from the 1800s, and some newer parts added in the 1960s. Drenagh is considered a very important historical building.
The Story of Drenagh
The land where Drenagh stands was once called Fruithill. It was bought by William Conolly in 1729. William Conolly was a very rich man who started with nothing and became successful. He was also a leader in the Parliament of Ireland, which was like the government at the time.
William Conolly's daughter married Robert McCausland. When William died, Robert inherited Fruithill. Robert McCausland built the first house at Fruithill in the 1730s. This house was later made bigger in the 1790s. Today, that first house is gone, but a walled garden from that time still remains.
Robert's son, Conolly McCausland, later married Elizabeth Gage. Their son, also named Conolly McCausland, wanted a new house built. He hired an architect named John Hargrave. However, only the gate lodge was built before both Conolly and Hargrave passed away.
In 1836, Conolly's son, Marcus McCausland (1787-1862), asked Charles Lanyon to build the house we see today. Marcus and his wife, Marianne, had a son named Conolly Thomas McCausland (1828-1902).
Conolly Thomas McCausland held an important local position in County Londonderry in 1866. He married Laura St John. Their son, Maurice Marcus McCausland (1872-1938), lived during a time when the government bought a large part of the estate's land.
Maurice's son, Conolly Robert McCausland (1906-1968), served in the Second World War. After the war, he changed his faith. This led to a legal challenge about who would inherit Drenagh. The family was able to keep Drenagh.
When Conolly Robert McCausland passed away in 1968, his son Marcus Edgcumbe McCausland (1933-1972) inherited the estate. Sadly, Marcus passed away in 1972. In 2014, the McCausland family had to consider selling Drenagh. However, after selling only part of the estate, they were able to keep ownership of Drenagh House itself.
Exploring the Gardens
The beautiful wooded areas around Drenagh have been there since the 1700s, and some parts are surrounded by walls. There are also special terraced gardens designed in the Italian style. You can find an arboretum, which is like a collection of different trees. There's even a fountain inspired by a famous one at the Villa d'Este in Italy.
Two unique parts of the garden, the Moon Garden and the Orbit Garden, were created in the 1960s. These gardens show influences from Chinese design and the Arts & Crafts movement. Drenagh's gardens are so special that they are listed on the Register of Parks, Gardens and Demesnes of Special Historic Interest.
