farm house, house

Detached three-bay two-storey house, built c. 1820 and altered c. 1860, having modern single-storey addition to the north gable end. Pitched natural slate roof with projecting rendered or cut stone eaves course to east elevation, blue-black clay ridge tiles, brick chimneystacks to gables ends (north and south), and with cast-iron rainwater goods to east elevation and replacement rainwater goods to west. Roughcast rendered rubble stone walls. Square-headed window openings having some remaining stone sills, and with two-over-two pane timber sliding sash windows and with central six-over-six pane timber sliding sash window at first floor level over front door. Central square-headed door opening to east elevation having smooth rendered reveals, painted stone plinth blocks, replacement timber door and plain overlight. Set back from road in an elevated site to the south of the centre of Buncrana. Flight of concrete steps from road to east into garden. Rendered rubble stone walls to site boundary to the east. Pedestrian gateway to the east having metal gate.

This well-proportioned if modest house retains much of its original character and form. Well-maintained, its visual appeal and integrity is enhanced by the retention of salient fabric such as the natural slate roof and timber sliding sash windows. The proportions to the front elevation suggest that this building is a vernacular interpretation of the typical classically proportioned three-bay two-storey house that can be found throughout the Irish countryside. The relatively wide space between the corners and the end bays suggests that this building may be quite early, perhaps dating to the first half of the nineteenth century. This building is of a type that was a ubiquitous feature of the rural Irish countryside until recent years. However, buildings of this type are becoming increasingly rare survivals due to insensitive alteration and demolition, which adds significance to this particular building at Ballymacarry Lower. This unassuming structure is an integral element of the built heritage of the local area, adding interesting to the landscape to the south of the centre of Buncrana. The simple rubble stone boundary walls to the west add to the setting, and complete this composition.