Buncrana Library — Saint Mary's Road

Freestanding gable-fronted former Presbyterian church, dated 1861, having five-bay double-height hall with clasping diagonally-set corner buttresses to the front elevation, single-bay single-storey gable-fronted porch to the centre of the front elevation (west) having clasping diagonally-set corner buttresses to the front elevation, and with slightly projecting gable-fronted projection to the centre of the front elevation (west) having feathered cut stone coping and carved stone finial over. Now in use as library with double-height modern extension to the south. Pitched natural slate roof having raised cut stone verges, and kneeler stones to the front elevation at eaves level; raised cut stone verge to porch with kneeler stones to eaves. Roughly dressed and squared rubble stone walls with cut stone stringcourse (parallel to eaves) to front elevation (west), and with ashlar quoins to the corners of shallow projecting breakfront to the front elevation. Ashlar coping\feather skews to buttresses and to gablet over shallow projection to front elevation. Cut stone date plaque to front elevation of porch incise ‘A.D. 1861’. Pointed-arched lancet window openings to side elevations (north and south), and to front elevation (west) flanking central porch, having chamfered flush cut stone surrounds, chamfered cut stone sills, roughly squared stone relieving arches, and cast-iron quarry-glazed windows. Circular window opening to shallow projection to front elevation (west), over porch, and to the rear elevation, having cut stone surrounds and quatrefoil tracery, and cast-iron framed windows with coloured glass. Paired square-headed window openings to the centre of the rear elevation (east) having chamfered flush cut stone surrounds, chamfered dressed stone sills and lintels, chamfered cut stone mullion, and replacement timber casement windows. Pointed-arched door opening to the front face of entrance porch, now infilled with modern fixed-pane window fitting, having chamfered flush cut stone surrounds; square-headed former doorway to the north side elevation of porch (north and south), now partially infilled with fixed-pane timber window, having chamfered flush cut stone surround, chamfered dressed lintel; shouldered square-headed window opening to the south elevation of porch having chamfered flush cut stone surround, chamfered dressed stone sill and lintel, and replacement timber window. Shouldered square-headed doorways to either end of the rear elevation (east), doorway to the north now partially infilled with window inserted, having chamfered flush cut stone surrounds, chamfered dressed stone lintels, and replacement battened timber door (south) and timber window (north). Interior now refitted to accommodate use as a library. Modern block attached to the south elevation linking former church with gabled-fronted modern library. Set back from road in own grounds with lawns and car parks to site.