The Hill, 56 Portglenone Road, Randalstown, Co Antrim, BT41 3EG

The Hill is a detached asymmetrical multi-bay two-storey rendered house built around 1870, situated to the west of Portglenone Road in Randalstown. The building is rectangular on plan and faces north, with slightly lower canted bays, a central gabled two-storey north projection with single-storey lean-to porches, and a two-storey south addition abutting the eastern side of the south elevation. A flat roof two-storey extension abuts the south and west elevations of the southern addition. The roof is pitched natural slate with squared ridge tiles, overhanging eaves with exposed rafter ends, and decorative A-frame bargeboards to the gables. Ogee profile cast iron gutters and uPVC downpipes are installed throughout. The chimneys are red brick: two sit on the ridge of the main block (the western one being a replacement), and a third is positioned at eaves level where the flat roof extension meets the two-storey addition.

The principal elevation facing north features a central gabled projecting bay with four-centred arch-headed windows to the ground floor and an oriel window to the first floor. The oriel has a timber surround supported on moulded corbels. Flanking lean-to porches have moulded stucco kneelers to their verges. The left bay is blank, while the right bay contains a tripartite segmental-headed window to the ground floor with a fixed central panel and casement side panels; the first floor has a double segmental-headed window.

The east elevation is asymmetrical, with a projecting two-storey gabled bay to the right side containing a two-storey hipped canted bay within. The canted bay features double segmental-headed windows at each floor. The south side has a double segmental-headed timber window to the ground floor and a tripartite segmental-headed window to the first floor with fixed central and casement side panels. The principal entrance is located within the canted bay abutting the north elevation.

The south elevation is also asymmetrical, with a projecting two-storey gable to the north side containing a two-storey hipped canted bay within. A two-storey multi-bay flat roof extension abuts the south return on the west side. Doors to the ground floor are located on the west side (inside a modern glasshouse) and to the east side, the latter with a segmental head. Windows are present at each bay on the first floor. A red brick chimney at the intersection of the flat roof and south return features dog-tooth and corbel detailing with two round clay chimney pots.

The west elevation is asymmetrical, with a projecting two-storey gable to the north side containing a single-storey hipped extension within. The gable is abutted to the south by the two-storey multi-bay flat roof extension. The single-storey extension has two windows to the west elevation and a single-storey lean-to extension to the north elevation. A door to the south elevation of the single-storey extension is vertically timber-sheeted. The two-storey flat roof extension has windows at ground and first floor levels to the north side.

To the north-west stands a pitched single-storey red brick outhouse of rectangular plan, with decorative cast iron vents to its north elevation. Window and door openings are present to the south, and a segmental arched opening faces east.

The property is set within a mature garden on an elevated site, bounded on all sides by mature hedges. Access is via a tarmac driveway from the east side. A projecting wall and gate enclose the garden to the south. A wall encloses the rear courtyard, separating the driveway from modern farm outbuildings to the west and a red brick outhouse to the north. The boundary pillars are circular with ball tops and moulded bell cast cappings. A curved wall from the roadside has smooth rendered moulded coping and plinth.

Walling materials include pebbledash and rendered finishes. Windows are timber throughout, and rainwater goods comprise cast iron and uPVC.