19 Ranaghan Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

The buildings face east and are situated a short distance to the north of Ranaghan Road that travels in a north-easterly direction from the western suburb of Maghera to meet the main Maghera-Dungiven Road. The site is located just over one mile from the centre of Maghera.
A single-storey, four-bay, direct entry house with thatch under corrugated iron. There are two plain chimneys one serving the kitchen fireplace and the other over the parlour fireplace.

The external finish is of limestone chips above a recessed and blackened base. A projecting porch with shallow pitched roof covered with corrugated iron is entered by a two panel door now glassless and there is a top-hung window on the left hand (south) side that is now glassless in the bottom section.
To the left (south) of the porch there is one window and to the right three windows all with top-hung timber frames that are without glazing. Sills are of traditional depths.

Beyond the right hand (north) gable and set back from the main face a store and a shed have corrugated iron roof coverings. The front wall of the store is of random rubble with brick infill and remains of harling. Part of the front of the shed is made up of timber planking.

A section that retains vestiges of natural slate roofing connects the dwelling to a two storey barn with natural slate roof, random rubble stone walls, roughly plastered, and with openings dressed with red brick. It is divided into two sections.

At the front there are two entrances, that on the right has a timber ledged and sheeted door and that on the left is without a door. On the upper floor there is a large opening, of a loading bay type, flanked on either side by a smaller opening with brick sill. The central opening has a flush concrete sill and a concrete head. There are a further two small openings at intermediate level.

The end gable which is blank has alternating brick quoins at either corner and the right hand face has a similar feature at upper level. The end gable is finished with a plain timber bargeboard.
A small hatch in the left hand compartment gives access to above where the sawn timbers support the laths directly under the slates.

At the rear there is a window and a door opening on the ground floor of the two-storey barn with two openings on the upper floor and the single storey connecting section has one window opening sealed with corrugated plastic.

Historical information

The house appears on the OS maps of 1832 and 1854

References – Primary Sources

1. OS map, 1st edition 1832, Co. Londonderry, sheet 36
2. OS map, 1st revision 1854, Co. Londonderry, sheet 36

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
D. Plan Form
F. Structural System
H-. Alterations detracting from building
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

W. Northern Ireland/International Interest
Z. Rarity

Evaluation

An east facing, single storey, four bay direct entry house, located about a mile from Maghera.. The layout has been altered but the original form and internal layout is easily discerned. Little detail remains but the overriding interest lies in the retention of the original roof construction including the scarfed crucks.