Boomhall, Culmore Road, Londonderry, BT48 8JE

A large rectangular 2 storey stone built house in Georgian style becoming 3 stories on the side overlooking River Foyle. It is presently ruinous without roof, floors and internally finishes. The entrance or W front is 7 bays wide with a 3 bay wide slightly projecting breakfront, symmetrically arranged with projecting single storey small porch with side entry on S side. This porch spans across the basement area which forms a storey height plinth around the building. The porch has corner ¾ engaged Roman Doric stone columns, with deep frieze and cornice and flat roof. The W side has a single window opening now built up as are all the window openings on basement and ground floor. The ground floor windows were formerly tall s/s with multiple planes with ashlar sandstone trim. First floor windows square in proportion with sandstone trim. A bold good moulded cornice terminates the wall tops running round the building perimeter. On the east side is the principal architectural feature of the house. A large polygonal bay, full house height with similarly proportioned window openings on each facet and the central opening at first floor enriched as an aedicule with moulded pediment, consoles and fluted pilasters. Walls are built of good random rubble schist and trimmed with ashlar sandstone (probably Dungiven). On the N side is a small polygonal bay defining the staircase. This may have been a mid 19th cent addition. The walls of the breakfront are smooth rendered. The S and N sides are 5 bays wide with window proportions similar to other facades. The house is sited on sloping ground which falls quickly to the River Foyle and enjoys a splendid view of it and the site of the late 17th century boom laid across the river about this location during the siege of Derry. The house has 2 long avenue approaches and the southern one had a gate lodge now demolished but piers remain.