121 Muldonagh Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A single storey dwelling , 3 bays long, stone built, whitewashed, gabled, corrugated iron roof. The west side, which is slightly angled to the Muldonagh Road, is the back side of the cottage and has a single window which lights the back of the kitchen. The floor level is below the level of the roadway and the verge falls to the house wall. The original house extends to the North with what was originally an outbuilding but is now partly converted to a bedroom. The south gable is windowless and has a central chimney.

The east side has the entrance door with 2 windows to the south and one to the north but an additional window added to the room conversion. The windows are timber of modern design but the openings are original with former cills retained. The window to the conversion is similar but has a concrete cill. The conversion only occupies part of the outbuildings so that the door to it is retained. There is a chimney between kitchen and conversion and the roof defined by a cement barge painted white. The gable of the outbuilding is similarly treated. The roofs are corrugated iron unpainted both sides. There are half round metal gutters to both sides with single downpipes.

To south of the cottage on the other side of the entrance road, is a small outbuilding in similar construction to the house and placed at right angles to the road. It has a single narrow door on its north side.

The whole makes a pretty picture particularly when viewed from the main Glenshane Road. It blends well into the landscape as a good example of a vernacular group.

Historical information

This dwelling and indeed the nearby group of former dwellings and outbuildings with the exception of the 2 storey house are shown on the 1832 O.S.S. No. 24. They have survived remarkably well without the intrusion of modern barns though the interiors have been altered. The more modern windows were installed in 1950s.

References

Primary Sources
1. O.S. Map 1832 1st Edition Co Londonderry Sheet No. 24
2. Owner 30-07-1999

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

No 121 Muldonagh Road is interesting for its vernacular character, its siting and its relationship to adjoining vernacular buildings. The buildings sit at various angles to a minor road all have corrugated iron roofs, some painted red, others unpainted like No. 121 and all walls colourwashed white. No. 121 is not listable but well worth retaining.