Altafort, 62 Skeagh Road, Dromore, Banbridge, Co Down, BT25 2QB

A symmetrical two-storey three-bay detached farmhouse with outbuildings, built c1830 and located on an extensive rural site to the south of Skeagh Road northwest of Kinallen. Rectangular plan with lean-to extension to rear. Hipped natural slate roof with blue/black angled ridge tiles and rendered chimneystacks having four terracotta pots. Cast-iron half-round rainwater goods on projecting stone eaves. Walling is painted ruled-and-lined render to east elevation; lime-rendered and whitened walls to remainder. Windows are generally 6/6 timber-framed sliding sash without horns, framed in limewashed brick and have projecting painted masonry sills. The principal elevation faces east and is three openings wide to each floor. To centre at ground floor is an elliptical-headed doorcase with timber fanlight and modern eight-panelled timber door flanked by three-paned sidelights with panelled aprons. Entrance is accessed via a flight of granite steps with paved threshold having wrought-iron boot-scraper. The south elevation has two evenly-spaced windows to ground and first floor. The west elevation has full-height lean-to extension at right; to centre is a segmental-headed stairwell window and a window to first and ground floor left. Extension is modern and of no interest. The north elevation has two-segmental-headed multi-paned windows to ground floor. Setting Set on extensive grounds in a rural location to the south of Skeagh Road, with panoramic views to east over surrounding farmland. Double entrance across agricultural grazing lands. Bounded to main road by curved low lime-rendered and whitened wall with coping stones topped by original cast-iron arrowhead railings. Three square gate piers with pointed granite caps, original cast-iron latch gate to paired piers. Secondary squared gate piers to inner driveway having masonry caps with ball finials, supporting original cast-iron gates. Curved driveway leads to U-shaped farmyard with original rubble stone outbuildings and twentieth-century barn to east. Double-height barn to south of yard has a modern timber cupola with clock and weathervane. Stable block to west and northwest each have original glazing and timber-sheeted half-doors. To rear of house is a walled garden with paved pathway accessed from yard by an original wrought-iron gate. Rubble stone wall also to south gable of house to grounds to front of house. Roof: Natural slate Walling: render Windows: Timber RWG: Cast-iron