Buncrana Courthouse — Lower Main Street

Detached five-bay two-storey over basement courthouse, built 1839-42 and refurbished 1925, having advanced pedimented bays to either end of the front elevation (east), and with single-bay single-storey addition to the rear (west). Formerly also in use as a jail (basement level), and later as a public library. Hipped artificial slate roof to main body of building with grey clayware ridge tiles, and profiled cast-iron rainwater goods; pitched natural and artificial slate roofs to advanced pedimented bays with modillions to pediments. Channelled smooth rendered walls at ground floor level with smooth rendered walls over at first floor level, and having render cornice stringcourse over first floor openings. Square-headed window openings with rendered surrounds with rendered entablatures over, and with replacement windows. Square-headed door openings to end bays having smooth rendered surrounds, and double leaf timber panelled doors. Double-height courtroom to interior with panelled timber dock, fixed timber bench seating, reredos to judge’s chair, and gallery supported on cast-iron columns. Set slightly back from road to the centre of Buncrana. Rendered boundary walls to road-frontage to the east having painted pyramidal coping and cast-iron railings over with fleur-de-lys finials. Cast-iron gates to entrances. High rubble stone wall to the rear (west).