House in Carnshannagh

Detached three-bay single-storey vernacular house, built c. 1870, having central projecting windbreak porch to the front elevation (south-east), and with single-bay single-storey outbuilding attached to the north-east gable end Pitched corrugated-metal roof with raised rendered verges and rendered chimneystacks to the gable ends (north-east and south-west). Smooth rendered walls. Square-headed window openings with two-over-two pane timber sliding sash windows. Square-headed doorway to porch having timber door. Set slightly back from road in own grounds in the rural countryside to the north-east of Raphoe. Aligned at a right angle to the road-alignment. Yard to front (south-east) and modern gate to road-frontage to the east.

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 north-east of Raphoe. 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 retains some characteristic features of the vernacular tradition to the area including the windbreak porch to the front. The corrugated-metal roof to the dwelling indicates that this building was formerly thatched; its reinstatement would add significantly to the appeal of this building. The form of this building having chimneystacks to the gable ends and a central doorway suggests that this building is of the ‘direct entry’ type that is characteristic of the vernacular tradition in north-west Ireland. This house represents a fine 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.