Ballyarnett Farm, 50 Beragh Hill Road, Londonderry, ** See General Comments **

Ballyarnett Farm is a large two-storey red brick villa of Arts and Crafts style dating from around the end of the 19th century, situated on an elevated site overlooking the former Ballyarnett racecourse.

The building is distinguished by multi-gabled rosemary tiled roofs with diagonal patterns on shorter roof lengths, and tall Tudoresque brick chimneys. The main facade combines gabled and rectangular bays in shallow projections. Some gables are treated with red hung tiles, while others display black and white timber and plaster work characteristic of the period.

The main entrance and west facade comprises a gabled two-storey projection set at right angles to a longer two-storey block. The gabled portion features a ground floor shallow rectangular bay with pitched leaded roof, above which sits a transom and mullioned window that springs from the leadwork, with the head terminating against the bottom course of hanging wall tiles on the gable. The porch, nestled within the angle between the two blocks, is constructed in red brick with a glass roof and appears to have been rebuilt. The entrance door is positioned in the flanking wall. To the south are a floor-to-ceiling window with French doors and a smaller shallow rectangular bay window, a relatively recent construction occupying space formerly taken by a projecting chimney, remnants of which remain at first floor level.

The south facade fronting Beragh Hill Road spans five bays, expressed by large gables at either end with three gabled dormers between. The west bay has a two-storey shallow canted bay with tile hanging in the gable. The east bay features a shallow rectangular bay expressed with heavy black timber in herringbone pattern with white plaster infill. Ground floor windows are tall with two lights and single lights with transoms, repeated at first floor but reduced in height, creating a lively composition now partially obscured by wall creeper. The east gable culminates in an east chimney projecting with tall moulded stacks; a matching feature formerly existed at the west end but has been removed.

The east facade mirrors the west with the addition of a narrow gable suggesting the double-pile plan arrangement, with a secondary entrance in this additional gable. Windows follow the pattern of other elevations, though much ivy obscures them. The north or rear facade comprises jumbled return ends forming a small rear court or yard, with a small lean-to utility block. A large chimney dominates the side wall of the projecting block at the west front.

Chimneys were a dominant design feature; the loss of one is regrettable. Roofs are rosemary tiles with diagonal patterning on shorter lengths. The west and south elevations have eaves overhangs; elsewhere tiles form the verges.

The house stands close to Beragh Hill Road, with gardens extending north and west along the main avenue approach, which terminates with double wrought iron gates set between brick piers with curved walls sweeping in from the road verge. The garden contains handsome mature trees. Across Beragh Hill Road stands a walled garden.