Foyle Park

THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF GROCERS OWNED 11,638 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY LONDONDERRY

JAMES DAVIDSON (1809-81), of EGLINTON, County Londonderry, and of Murlingden, Brechin, Angus, married Margaret Jane Walker, daughter of Minchin Lloyd, of Summerhill, Moville, and had issue,

Charles John Lloyd, of Eglinton; his heir;
JAMES WILLIAM, of whom we treat;
Margaret Jane (1863-1948).

The younger son,

JAMES WILLIAM DAVIDSON (1860-93), of Foyle Park, County Londonderry, wedded, in 1893, Phœbe Franklin, and had issue,

JAMES DAVIDSON, of Foyle Park.

Foyle Park House (Image: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society)

FOYLE PARK HOUSE, near Eglinton, County Londonderry, is a Georgian residence built ca 1810, comprising two storeys of varying heights.

The house was originally called Grocers’ Hall.

It was built by David Babington, lessee of the Grocers’ Company estate in the county.

The Rev George Vaughan Sampson (1763-1827), remarked at the time:

"The mansion of Grocers’ Hall is worthy of those in honour of whom it has been named. The value and efficacy of resident and patriotic gentry can no where be better exemplified." 

The Worshipful Company of Grocers did not renew the lease and, in 1820, David Babington received £7,000 in compensation (equivalent to about £700,000 today) for Foyle Park, including the house.

The house was subsequently inhabited by the agent of the Grocers’ Company; officers of the Ordnance Survey; Fallowlea Literary School.

Fallowlea Literary School was apparently affiliated with the Templemoyle Agricultural School, located near by, and took school boarders.

Foyle Park House (Image: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society)

George Ross leased Foyle Park from the Grocers’ Company in 1858; and, in the 1860s-80s, the house was inhabited by several occupants.

James Davidson acquired Foyle Park, then a farm comprising 500 acres, and a large house with 26 rooms, in 1858, as the dowry of his wife Margaret.

Foyle Park remained in the Davidson family until 1925, when it was sold to Henry Whiteside.

By 1968 the house was completely derelict when it was bought and restored by Kenneth Davidson.

The Davidsons sold Foyle Park in 2011.

The armorial bearings of the Grocers’ Company and Babingtons were thereafter removed from the gate-lodge at Foyle Park and erected on a wall beside the market house in Eglinton.

First published in December, 2021.