Turmoyra Farm, Boconnell Lane, Craigavon, BT66 6NE

Turmoyra Farm is a single-storey mud-walled hearth-lobby-entry vernacular dwelling dating from the early 19th century, with a mid-19th-century two-storey extension. The building is located east of Boconnell Lane near Oxford Island, south of the M1 motorway, in the lower Lough Neagh area. It represents the sole surviving structure from what was originally a group of three buildings on the site, which developed into a complex farm during the early 20th century.

The main block is rectangular in plan with a three-bay configuration, breakfront porch, rear outshot, and a two-storey addition to the south-west with attached lean-to outbuildings to the north-east. The original section is constructed of mud walls beneath layers of limewash, while the two-storey addition is built of roughcast-rendered brick and rubble stone, with the gable end showing an amalgam of brick and rubblestone. The main elevation faces south-east and is asymmetrical, with the breakfront porch positioned left of centre and single windows to either side. The two-storey addition extends to the south-west with two windows on each floor aligned to the right. The door has been replaced with a hardwood security door.

The roofing comprises a steeply pitched corrugated metal roof to the main block with lead ridge-capping and two red brick chimneystacks positioned at the north-east gable and left of centre. The two-storey addition has a pitched slate roof with angled-clay ridge tiles and a red brick chimneystack to the south-west gable end. Smoke-blackened original sawn rafters and purlins with scraws remain visible in part, though no evidence of thatch survives. Windows throughout have been infilled with breeze-block, with timber lintels and no cills; metal-framed windows remain internally. The rear elevation displays three blocked-up window openings to both the main section and addition. The attached lean-to outbuildings to the north-east are built in limewashed rubble stone and concrete block with a monopitched corrugated metal roof, and include blocked-up openings.

The survival of smoke-blackened original timbers and scraws is significant, as is the retention of the loft over the hearth and the logie window in the screen wall, both representing reminders of the simple lifestyle associated with dwellings of this type. The building exemplifies the regional typology of homogenous mud-walled structures characteristic of the lower Lough Neagh area, sharing plan form, materials of mud and brick, and linear extension patterns with similar contemporary buildings.

The farm first appears on Alex Richmond's maps of the Brownlow estates around 1832 as a smaller building than the current footprint. The first edition Ordnance Survey map of 1834 shows that two further buildings had been constructed on either side of the lane to the north, while the second edition of 1859 indicates that the building had been extended slightly. By the third edition of 1906, the farm had developed into a complex of buildings, with a similarly sized block located to the north-west. The farm occupies a large open rural site with farmland on all sides, accessed via a long lane off Boconnell Lane. A mature apple orchard stands to the rear with panoramic views from the north, east and south.

Turmoyra formed part of the lands granted to the Brownlow family during the Plantation of Ulster undertaken by James I, under whose stewardship Lurgan developed significantly. Two lease agreements dated 1 January 1804, signed by William Brownlow, indicate that the land was let to Patrick and Owen Kaine. By the Griffith's Valuation of 1864, three occupiers are listed: Thomas, Owen and Bernard Kane, with Thomas appearing as the owner and valuing the house at £1. By 1866 Thomas Kane's occupancy had passed to Owen, and by 1877 Bernard Kane was sole occupier, with the buildings valued at £2 and land at £15. The 1901 census records Anne Kane as occupier, living with her two daughters, son, daughter-in-law and eight grandchildren. Valuation revisions indicate that Anne Kane purchased the farm with government assistance under the Land Purchase Act around 1901. By 1911 the land was owned by Anne's son, Michael Kane, who lived on the property with his wife of 21 years, seven children, two sisters, a niece and a nephew. The farm buildings surrounding the house, including the substantial block located to the north-west, have been demolished in recent years.

Despite being vacant and somewhat degraded, the building displays traditional construction techniques and materials. Its rarity value, combined with the survival of vernacular features and the largely intact rural setting despite motorway proximity, enhance its historical and architectural interest.