Green Hills

Detached five-bay two-storey building with attic level, built c. 1750, associated with Green Hills (see 40907030). Possibly originally in use as a dwelling, later in use as an outbuilding. Pitched natural slate roof, now failing, having raised rendered verges to the gable ends (north and south), projecting stepped brick eaves course, and brick chimneystack with terracotta pot over. Roughcast rendered finish, now failing, over randomly coursed rubble stone masonry. Carved limestone plaque (on rectangular-plan) over blocked opening to west elevation depicting (in relief) a lion standing over prone human figure, surmounted by a further human figure with a sword and spear, and with a donkey above. Square-headed window openings with flush red brick block-and-start reveals, cut stone sills, remains of six-over-six pane timber sliding sash windows , and with wrought iron railings to ground floor. Square headed door openings with timber lintels, stone steps to doorway on north side of east elevation. Openings to west elevation now blocked including two shallow segmental-headed openings with roughly squared voussoirs. Abutment wall to front and rear elevation connecting with house on north side. Complex of now generally ruinous single-storey outbuildings to site having pitched mainly corrugated-metal roofs, rendered rubble stone walls, square-headed openings (some with brick reveals) having remains of timber fittings. Set well back from road in own grounds to the south-west of Raphoe and adjacent to the north of Green Hills. Remains of former walled garden (on rectangular-plan) adjacent to the east having rubble stone walls; remains of tower or bellcote to one corner. Remains of former two-storey coach house to the north having rubble stone walls, square-headed window openings at first floor level having some surviving stone sills and with red brick reveals, segmental-headed carriage arches at ground floor level having red brick reveals, and square-headed doorways with remains of timber fittings. Modern farm buildings and structures to site.

Although now derelict, this interesting building retains much of its original character and form, while the retention of early fabric, albeit in a dilapidated condition, adds to its integrity and visual appeal. This building is associated with Green Hills (see 40907022), a house that stands adjacent to the south. The form of this building suggests that it may have been originally a dwelling, possibly one that predates Green Hills. It was later in use as an outbuilding. Of particular note and interest is the unusual and distinctive cut stone plaque to the west gable end, which may have been moved to its present location from another site. This plaque, which is of artistic merit and may be of considerable antiquity, appears to depict (in relief) a lion standing over prone human figure, surmounted by a further human figure with a sword and spear, and with a donkey above. This may be a reference to the story of Jerobaum from the First Book of Kings (Old Testament). Although only sections of the boundary wall of the former walled garden to site now survive, its scale provides an interesting historical insight into the extensive resources required to run and maintain a country estate in Ireland during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The remains of the former coach house suggest that this was once a fine building. This probable former house forms part of a group of sites associated with Green Hills, and is an interesting building in its own right. Sensitively restored it would make a positive contribution to the rural landscape to the south-west of Raphoe.