Castletown Old

Detached four-bay single-storey vernacular house with attic level, built c. 1760, having single-bay single-storey flat-roofed entrance porch to the north elevation, and with single-bay single-storey extension to the west gable end. Formerly a four-bay structure (bay to east end demolished in recent years). Now disused. Pitched flax thatched roof with raised rendered coping to gable ends (east and west) and with three cement rendered red brick chimneystacks (one to either gable end and one to centre). Mono-pitched artificial slate roof to addition to west gable end and mono-pitched corrugated-sheeted roof to porch to north. Roughcast rendered rubble stone walls; smooth rendered plinth course; cement rendered walls to the west gable end. Square-headed window openings having smooth rendered reveals, some stone sills, and with two-over-two pane timber sliding sash windows to front elevation (north) and six-over-six pane timber sliding sash windows to rear (south). Square-headed window openings to porch having timber casement window. Square-headed doorway to the west side of porch having battened timber door. Interior has tongue and groove boarded ceilings and cast-iron Art Nouveau fireplace, c. 1900. Set back from road in mature grounds in an elevated site in the rural countryside to the south-west of Saint Johnstown. Mature trees to site. Flagstones to front of house and gravel forecourt to the north. Garden to north-east of house bounded to the east by rubble stone boundary wall. Pedestrian gateway to the north-east of site comprising a pair of rendered gate piers (on square-plan) having wrought-iron flat bar gate. Site is approached along a short lane to the west lined with mature trees .Multiple-bay terrace of single-storey outbuildings to the north-west, c. 1820, having pitched natural slate and corrugated-metal roofs with cast-iron rainwater goods, roof vents to central block, roughcast rendered rubble stone walls, round window openings to block to the south with cast-iron swiveling windows, square-headed doorways with battened timber fittings, and with square-headed carriage-arch having sliding metal door.

Although no longer occupied, this appealing and relatively intact example of a vernacular house retains its early form and character, and is an appealing feature in the rural landscape to the south-west of Saint Johnstown. Its integrity is enhanced by the retention of much of its salient fabric including timber sliding sash windows. Modest in scale, it exhibits the simple and functional form of vernacular building in Ireland. It was previously a four-bay structure with the bay to the east end demolished in recent years, which detracts somewhat. Of particular note is the survival of the thatched roof, albeit it in a dilapidated condition, which is becoming increasingly rare in this part of County Donegal. This roof is thatched in flax, which is traditionally a common crop in this part of Donegal. The form of this building, having chimneystacks to the gable ends and a central doorway to the original building, suggests that this building is of the ‘direct entry’ type that is characteristic of the vernacular tradition in north-west Ireland. This building is likely to be of considerable antiquity and local tradition suggests that dates to the mid eighteenth century at the latest. The substantial terrace of single-storey outbuildings to the north-west of the site survive in good condition and add significantly to the setting and context of the house. This house represents a surviving example of a once ubiquitous building type in the rural Irish countryside, and is a valuable addition to the vernacular heritage of County Donegal. Sensitively restored, it would make a strongly positive contribution to the rural landscape to the south-west of Saint Johnstown.