42 Bluestone Road, Crossmacahilly, Portadown, Craigavon, Co Armagh, BT63 5SH

Storey and a half, three bay, rendered and partially painted, vernacular thatched house built parallel to the Bluestone Road and separated from it by a short two metre deep garden. Cement rendered wall along roadside topped by boulders. The building faces south. Entrance is to the eastern end of the central bay via a lean-to porch with slated roof. Match boarded and painted entrance door with no fanlight. To east, six over six sash window with stone cill of standard Georgian size (which is large for a vernacular house). To west three similar windows, one to central bay and two more in the end western bay. The openings including the porch are regularly distributed across the façade. At first floor there is one opening to this façade. A narrow three over three sash with painted stone cill is tucked under the eaves and in the centre of the elevation. The roof is currently scollop thatched in combed wheat straw. This is cut horizontally over the eaves and has a rounded head. Fixings are hidden except at ridge and eaves. A single ligger of hazel secures the eaves which are also wrapped in wire mesh. The head since the time of survey has been changed from a historically inaccurate block cut ridge to a flush ridge. The flush ridge is secured by two lines of liggers. The gables are unusually slightly higher than the thatched roof (circa 75mm) and cement parging has been applied to the junction between. There are two rendered chimneys one on top of the west gable the other aligning with the edge of the porch to the central bay. The west gable is unpainted and smooth rendered in lime rich sand/cement. Two small side hung six pane casements are located at first floor symmetrical about the centre of the façade. They do not have cills. To the rear a large single storey kitchen return sits out to the western end. This is slated with natural slates and has cast aluminium rainwater goods. Two painted timber windows to the west in a Georgian glazing pattern are top hung casements. Two similar windows light the rear gable. A similar window and a sheeted entrance door are on the eastern side. Beyond to the east a wide casement window in similar style to the others with sixteen panes to each side. A small return sits out of the eastern end of the building. This has a small one over one sash with obscure glazing facing west, and a corrugated metal roof. This joins to a taller brick barn of similar height to the house recently roofed with overhanging natural slate. This barn has two arched openings for farm use. A new barn like structure has been built to the rear parallel with the house. It has similar arches and is made of brick. It also has dormers and a ridge ventilating cupola. Its design is slightly out of character with the vernacular style of the other buildings.